Interludes

VIEWPOINTS – Leading performances come up short in Williamstown Theatre Festival/Audible’s otherwise atmospheric A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE and PHOTOGRAPH 51

• By drediman
• December 16, 2020
• No Comments

To address the quandary of putting together some semblance of a season during a global pandemic, the renowned Williamstown Theatre Festival made the inspired decision to record its lineup of planned productions for Audible, Amazon’s online audiobook and podcast provider.

When Williamstown’s season was first announced before the pandemic hit, one of the more anticipated offerings was a revival of Tennessee Williams’ sultry classic A Streetcar Named Desire (SOMEWHAT RECOMMENDED), starring Audra McDonald as Blanche DuBois. Given Ms. McDonald’s proven track record, it would seem that Blanche would be a natural next conquest for the six-time Tony-winner. Unfortunately, at the time of the audio recording, Ms. McDonald’s interpretation continues to be a work in progress. Although she does well with Blanche’s melodramatic antics, the versatile actress still seems to be shaping the relentless peaks and valleys of the role, resulting in a performance that’s out of sync with the rest of the production. As Stan, Ariel Shafir does a good job of balancing the character’s sex appeal, brutish charm, and unpredictability. Coming across best is Carla Gugino, whose uncommonly savvy, strong, and sensual Stella elevates the character to the level of the two iconic aforementioned roles (in fact, I’d like to see this fine actress take on Blanche at some point). Director Robert O’Hara gives the play a snappy pace, a good deal of pulp, and an atmospheric sound design that echoes the characters’ psychological states (particularly Blanche’s). I also applaud his diverse casting choices, which gives the familiar play interesting new textures.

Another offering of the Williamstown season is the Audible recording of Anna Ziegler’s Photograph 51 (SOMEWHAT RECOMMENDED). Although the play – which chronicles the unsung contributions of Rosalind Franklin (particularly as a woman scientist in the 1950s) to the breakthrough discoveries of the DNA molecular structure – has received several notable regional productions, it’s perhaps best recognized as the 2015 West End vehicle for Nicole Kidman. Ironically, the Audible presentation has been directed by Susan Stroman (The Producers, Contact), one of the Broadway’s great director/choreographers. Unsurprisingly, she gives the audio experience a dance-like quality, elegantly handling the work’s frequent jumps in time and space. As Ms. Franklin, film and television star Anna Chlumsky gives a detached, workmanlike reading of the role that’s ultimately hard to sympathize with. Without any visual cues, it’s difficult to crack the character and engage in the connection that Ms. Ziegler attempts to make between the mysteries of the DNA molecule and the general mysteries of the human experience. The rest of the otherwise male-dominated cast give solid performances, most of them as fellow scientists. Up next in the collaborative Williamstown/Audible season are the world premieres of Stacy Osei-Kuffour’s Animals and Shakina Nayfack’s Chonburi, as well as Dominique Morisseau’s tragic, jazzy Paradise Blue.

A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE / PHOTOGRAPH 51
Regional Theater / Audio-play
Williamstown Theatre Festival / Audible