Producing a tried-and-true theatrical classic comes with some challenges. On the one hand, you don’t want to copy every production that has come before it, and on the other hand, you don’t want to stray so wildly out of line as to make it unrecognizable.
For Backyard Renaissance’s production of “A Streetcar Named Desire,” director Rob Lutfy and the entire talented cast have rethought this pillar of American theatre into a successful, original new take. The show manages to stay true to its roots while also imparting a modern and inventive view of these memorable characters and story. Simply put, the production is outstanding.
Stella Kowalski (Megan Carmitchel) lives with her husband, Stanley (Francis Gercke), in a tiny New Orleans apartment. When her eccentric yet refined sister Blanche (Jessica John) visits for an extended stay, the summer heat and clashing ideals cause a meltdown of epic proportions.
Lutfy chose to suspend the story between two time periods: 1947 and 2025. While the sets, costumes and residents of New Orleans exist in today’s world, the poised and seemingly ethereal Blanche DuBois will forever live in 1947.
The leading trio of actors are superb. Carmitchel’s Stella dearly loves both her husband and sister, which infuriates Stanley to a breaking point. You can see Stella slowly losing her grip as she tries to play nice with both sides. Gercke plays Stanley with a quick and volatile temperament that leaves you uneasy and truly fearful for these two women. John steals the show with her portrayal of Blanche. You can never really tell if the character is deeply in denial, mentally out of sorts or skillfully putting on an act. That is, until it’s too late.
Rounding out the cast is the show’s ensemble: Faith Carrion, Layth Haddad, William Huffaker, Markuz Rodriguez and Dianne Yvette. These characters contribute to the world-building and setting that have been so meticulously thought out. A notable performance comes from MJ Sieber as Mitch, Blanche’s romantic interest and lead into the crux of the play. The character is portrayed so genuinely and kindly; you find yourself really rooting for Blanche and Mitch to make it work. Sieber and John have great chemistry, and as the story unfolds, it really shows.
The lighting and sound really reinforce the severity of the story. Evan Eason and Steven Leffue’s sound design delivers powerful blasts of bass that you feel in your chest, all while chaotic jazz sets the tone of New Orleans. Curtis Meuller’s lighting adds gravitas to the more pressing or dramatic moments of the show, leading to dreamlike moments suspended in time.
Yi-Chien Lee’s set is a beautiful (yet intentionally messy) two-story apartment building, complete with a spiral staircase. Despite a lack of walls, the one-room bottom floor feels constricting and suffocating at times, only adding to the growing tension.
This is the first time “A Streetcar Named Desire” has been done in San Diego in almost two decades, and this production beautifully delivers it on all fronts. The show is a time investment at three and a half hours, but the sweltering drama makes for a powerful and gut-wrenching time at the theatre.
“A Streetcar Named Desire” runs until July 12 at the Tenth Avenue Arts Center.
(Photo credit: Daren Scott)
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