By Staff
OPENS THURSDAY Tennessee Williams' classic "A Streetcar Named Desire" opens Thursday at Meridian Little Theater with Lisa Carruth, right, starring as Blanche, Brad Hampton as Mitch and Melissa Tidwell as Eunice.Photo by Carisa McCain / The Meridian Star
Special to The Star
Feb. 24, 2002
Meridian Little Theatre takes a dramatic turn this week when the community theater opens a one-week run of its production of Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire."
Opening night is Thursday.
A winner of numerous awards including the Pulitzer Prize, the New York Drama Critic's Circle Award and the Donaldson Award as best play of the 1947-1948 season "Streetcar" is among the most-produced every year.
It is 50 years since the play first rode triumphantly onto Broadway, driven by stars Jessica Tandy and Marlon Brando and director Elia Kazan. Brando and Kazan re-teamed in 1951 for the film version.
The play takes is set in 1947 New Orleans in 1947 against the background of a nation stirring from war and depression. Williams' storyline questions the woman's role in both the workplace and bedroom.
Into this landscape walks the frail, Blanche DuBois (played by Lisa Carruth). The distraught heroine arrives on the streetcar named Desire when she comes to live with her sister, Stella (played by Stacey Pollock), and her sister's brawling husband, Stanley Kowalski (played by Chuck Gordon).
A former schoolteacher, Blanche is fussily elegant and spends most of her time primping covering things that are dingy with things that are bright.
Mitch (played by Brad Hampton) thinks he is reaching for the stars to dare to love the misspent Blanche, until Stanley tips his friend that Blanche has been driven from her hometown because of a her scarred and sordid past.
Others in the production of "Streetcar" include: Derek Pouncey, Melissa Tidwell, Jake Mardis, Elizabeth Thomas, Liz Coats, Robert Northcut and Dr. Jack Hall.
The production crew consists of Jimmy Pigford, director; William Harper, producer; Jennifer Williams, assistant director/stage manager; Audra Bosarge, lighting/sound manager; Susan Speed, wardrobe chairman; and Bryce Speed and Carolyn Abdella as the set artist and decorators.
Tickets are on sale at the MLT box office. Adult tickets are $16 and senior citizens/military are $14; they are available by calling 482-6371 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Pro-rated season memberships are still available. MLT's next play will be "Annie Get Your Gun" May 2-8.
Just the facts
What: "A Streetcar Named Desire"
When: Opens Thursday
Where: MLT playhouse is at 4334 Highway 39 North
Times: Thursday-Saturday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 8 p.m.; Sunday at 2 p.m.
Tickets: Audlts $16; senior citizens and military are $14.