THE HANGOVER REPORT – An unhinged, tempestuous Marisa Tomei leads a maximalist revival of Tennessee Williams’ THE ROSE TATTOO on Broadway

Emun Elliott and Marisa Tomei in Roundabout Theatre Company's revival of "The Rose Tattoo" by Tennessee Williams at the American Airlines Theatre. Photo by Joan Marcus.

Emun Elliott and Marisa Tomei in Roundabout Theatre Company’s revival of “The Rose Tattoo” by Tennessee Williams at the American Airlines Theatre. Photo by Joan Marcus.

Last night, Roundabout Theatre Company’s Broadway revival of Tennessee Williams’ lesser known The Rose Tattoo opened at the American Airlines Theatre. Oscar-winner Marisa Tomei reprises her performance (from a few years ago at the Williamstown Theatre Festival) as the vibrant Serafina, a Sicilian immigrant who retracts from the world after suffering a tragic loss. When the opportunity to rekindle lust and love — yes, in that order — in her life presents itself, conflicting passions explode.

In The Rose Tattoo, Williams has refreshingly given us a rare comedy and, as usual, plenty of atmosphere (the play is set in a sultry Louisiana town along the Gulf Coast). Even if the play feels lopsided and under-baked in a few places, there’s a fire in the writing that – when performed with sufficient abandon – is awfully theatrical. When the production falls into place, even the play’s structural and textual messiness can appear to be an asset – when has love and especially lust ever been tidy?

Luckily, director Trip Cullman appreciates the maximalist treatment needed to make The Rose Tattoo take wing. His production features a large cast and explodes with life and music (a live guitarist underscores the staging). Indeed, it all quite literally spills off the stage (the hallucinatory, collage-like set design is by Mark Wendland). Despite her petite physical stature, Ms. Tomei oozes unhinged sexuality and womanhood. She gives a feral, tempestuous performance that injects the play with requisite heat. As her new love, the wide- and wild-eyed Emun Elliott is also excellent, and there’s considerable chemistry between them.

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THE ROSE TATTOO
Broadway, Play
Roundabout Theatre Company / American Airlines Theatre
2 hours, 30 minutes (with one intermission)
Through December 8

Categories: Broadway, Theater

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