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‘Streetcar Named Desire’ right on track at Clear Creek
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| Completing outstanding performances in “Streetcar Named Desire” are the principals (l-r) Adrian Soto, Kathy Drum, Andrea Taylor and Alex Ozmond. The cast presented a shortened-run of the classic play by Tennessee Williams at Clear Creek Community Theatre in Nassau Bay. |
By GLORIA WALKER SMITH
I have never liked anything Tennessee Williams ever wrote.
That includes what is probably his best known, “Streetcar Named Desire.”
Because of Hurricane Ike’s disruption of schedules, this writer did not get to see the Clear Creek Community Theatre’s presentation until the very last performance on Sunday, Oct. 5.
I mention this because I would like to have written a review earlier, perhaps to have persuaded many others to attend. Hopefully, reading about the quality of acting showcased there, area theater-goers will watch for upcoming productions and make the pleasant drive down Space Center Boulevard to Nassau Bay.
Back to Tennessee Williams’ writing content – his characters are always seamy and represent the under-belly of human interaction. Strangely, as if in a nod to the good in some people, Williams includes one “nice” person. Such is the young wife, Stella (Andrea Taylor), who is tragically caught in the emotional war between the two people she cares most about in the whole world – her husband and her sister. Although I saw Andrea Taylor in the hilarious comedy, “Daddy’s Dyin’, Who’s Got the Will?” and may have even mentioned her in the review, that was nothing compared to her interpretation of the only truly sane and level-headed member of this supremely dysfunctional family. In this role, the greatest temptation would be to come off as “poor me and maudlin.” It didn’t happen. Taylor’s performance said, “It is what it is.”
When thinking of “Streetcar,” the natural thing would be to decide the only star is the character, Blanche. True, most of what happens in the play revolves around Blanche and her effect on those around her. Kathy Drum is at her zenith as an actress in portraying Blanche, with emotional depth seldom seen in community theater.
Experience she has, but something incredible rises to the surface as she “Old South’s her way” through the range of pitiful and hateful reactions to her past and current situations. I was spent watching her disintegration from the prissy, goody-two-shoes, fragile Laurel, Mississippi school teacher to the conniving, destructive real “lady of the demi monde.”
I can’t think of one thing Kathy could have done differently. Even her accent was right on target, leading me to suspect she really was from Louisiana or the Delta region. Usually, these acquired Southern drawls are so syrupy and exaggerated, they are a real turn-off.
The last of the “Triumvirate” (an association of three in authority, according to Mr. Webster) is Stella’s blue collar, no collar, no class husband, Stanley Kowalski – a fellow not only with rough edges, but rough all the way through. Alex Ozburn was in no way overshadowed by the talented ladies.
He was simply an unlikeable guy in every way and totally unsuited to his sweet-natured wife, Stella. The expected comment is, “Who can ever explain LOVE?” He is hard and hard-drinking, abusive and animalistic, unfaithful and ungrateful. Ozburn made him thoroughly despicable and wasn’t that the whole idea? I have not seen him in any other role, but I will certainly look for his name on future playbills at community theaters.
The small group that completes the cast of “Streetcar” did a very good job. Stanley’s friend from work, Mitch (Adrian Soto) was obviously cut from a finer grade of cloth than the other poker players and beer guzzlers. Soto did not rely on his exceptional good looks, but delivered a strong performance in a role that had more ‘meat’ in it than first imagined. He is a Fine Arts major hoping for a career in film and is laying a credible foundation with his work in community and college productions.
Making these plays “gel” is the crowning achievement or the crumbling downfall of a director. In this case, Aprille Meek worked her magic in bringing these emotionally-charged roles together as an outstanding package. The Meek family is a “super-bowl-team” and all of them deserve credit for a job well done. This was an unusually long play, but the scene and costume changes were carried out quickly and the performances so enthralling, the time flew by.
Call 281-335-5228 for reservations and more information. Tickets are a real bargain at $14, $12 for seniors and students and $10 for groups of ten and $9 for 20 or more. The location is 18091 Upper Bay Road, just off NASA Road One, across from the Post Office.
That includes what is probably his best known, “Streetcar Named Desire.”
Because of Hurricane Ike’s disruption of schedules, this writer did not get to see the Clear Creek Community Theatre’s presentation until the very last performance on Sunday, Oct. 5.
I mention this because I would like to have written a review earlier, perhaps to have persuaded many others to attend. Hopefully, reading about the quality of acting showcased there, area theater-goers will watch for upcoming productions and make the pleasant drive down Space Center Boulevard to Nassau Bay.
Back to Tennessee Williams’ writing content – his characters are always seamy and represent the under-belly of human interaction. Strangely, as if in a nod to the good in some people, Williams includes one “nice” person. Such is the young wife, Stella (Andrea Taylor), who is tragically caught in the emotional war between the two people she cares most about in the whole world – her husband and her sister. Although I saw Andrea Taylor in the hilarious comedy, “Daddy’s Dyin’, Who’s Got the Will?” and may have even mentioned her in the review, that was nothing compared to her interpretation of the only truly sane and level-headed member of this supremely dysfunctional family. In this role, the greatest temptation would be to come off as “poor me and maudlin.” It didn’t happen. Taylor’s performance said, “It is what it is.”
When thinking of “Streetcar,” the natural thing would be to decide the only star is the character, Blanche. True, most of what happens in the play revolves around Blanche and her effect on those around her. Kathy Drum is at her zenith as an actress in portraying Blanche, with emotional depth seldom seen in community theater.
Experience she has, but something incredible rises to the surface as she “Old South’s her way” through the range of pitiful and hateful reactions to her past and current situations. I was spent watching her disintegration from the prissy, goody-two-shoes, fragile Laurel, Mississippi school teacher to the conniving, destructive real “lady of the demi monde.”
I can’t think of one thing Kathy could have done differently. Even her accent was right on target, leading me to suspect she really was from Louisiana or the Delta region. Usually, these acquired Southern drawls are so syrupy and exaggerated, they are a real turn-off.
The last of the “Triumvirate” (an association of three in authority, according to Mr. Webster) is Stella’s blue collar, no collar, no class husband, Stanley Kowalski – a fellow not only with rough edges, but rough all the way through. Alex Ozburn was in no way overshadowed by the talented ladies.
He was simply an unlikeable guy in every way and totally unsuited to his sweet-natured wife, Stella. The expected comment is, “Who can ever explain LOVE?” He is hard and hard-drinking, abusive and animalistic, unfaithful and ungrateful. Ozburn made him thoroughly despicable and wasn’t that the whole idea? I have not seen him in any other role, but I will certainly look for his name on future playbills at community theaters.
The small group that completes the cast of “Streetcar” did a very good job. Stanley’s friend from work, Mitch (Adrian Soto) was obviously cut from a finer grade of cloth than the other poker players and beer guzzlers. Soto did not rely on his exceptional good looks, but delivered a strong performance in a role that had more ‘meat’ in it than first imagined. He is a Fine Arts major hoping for a career in film and is laying a credible foundation with his work in community and college productions.
Making these plays “gel” is the crowning achievement or the crumbling downfall of a director. In this case, Aprille Meek worked her magic in bringing these emotionally-charged roles together as an outstanding package. The Meek family is a “super-bowl-team” and all of them deserve credit for a job well done. This was an unusually long play, but the scene and costume changes were carried out quickly and the performances so enthralling, the time flew by.
Call 281-335-5228 for reservations and more information. Tickets are a real bargain at $14, $12 for seniors and students and $10 for groups of ten and $9 for 20 or more. The location is 18091 Upper Bay Road, just off NASA Road One, across from the Post Office.
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