Immerse yourself into “A Streetcar Named Desire” at the Roxy Regional Theatre

Set in the romantic past of New Orleans Blanche DuBois’s neurotic and genteel pretensions are no match for the brutish realities of her brother-in-law, Stanley Kowalski.

The Roxy Regional Theatre is currently staging the Tennessee Williams play “A Streetcar Named Desire.”

To fully understand the intricacies of this masterpiece play, in this writers opinion you just have to come from the south. Otherwise it is all too easy to miss the subtle interplay of these delicious personalities as they intertwine in a tapestry that is as old as, well the south.

You have Blanche DuBois the socialite (Alicia Kelly); the submissive wife Stella (Chase Kamata); Stanley the abuser (Justin Barnum); the dotting son Harold (Brenden Cataldo); among others. The acting was tight, performers seamlessly melding into their roles as if they had been born to them.

The subtly lit multi-level set was a vision of the working class side of New Orleans. Stella’s home was austere to say the least. Patches of bare bricks poked through the walls. An unshielded bulb hangs in the master bedroom. The Roxy Regional Theatre has always exceeded expectations with their sets.

Adding to the enjoyment of the performance was the soft musical score. While I could not name any specific tunes they felt right in place with the action on stage. In some shows the volume of the background track can overwhelm the performance, with this show it was just about perfect.

You still have time to catch this powerful theatrical experience, indeed I highly recommend it. The show runs until November 21st.