first night review: a streetcar named desire @ big couch

The cast of 'A Streetcar Named Desire' at Big Couch, New Orleans. (Photo courtesy of The Irene Collective)

​First Night Review: A Streetcar Named Desire @ Big Couch
Review by Todd Perley

Tennessee Williams’ masterpiece is certainly a product of its post-war time, but it remains a relatable marvel. I just cannot get enough of this play, and as such was beyond excited when the Irene Collective announced its performance of this keystone of American theater at Big Couch.

Although Marlon Brando, Vivien Leigh, Kim Hunter, and Karl Malden may have immortalized the roles in the 1950 film adaptation, our four leads wisely avoid attempts at gimmicky impersonations. Justin Davis’s 'Mitch' is entirely his own, more boyishly playful than Malden. Lauren Guglielmello’s 'Stella' seems to have more agency in her life than Hunter’s film version. She comes across as wiser and more assertive than any Stella I’ve seen before.

Patrick Nicks’ 'Stanley' is both charismatic and frightening. His unpredictable behavior makes him feral, charming, and dangerous; a wildcat that you’ve gotta keep your eye on to survive an imminent attack. His animal cries for “STELLA!!!!” can likely be heard from the street, alerting all passersby as to what play is being performed inside.

And then there’s Blanche, played by co-director Jaclyn Bethany. Ohhhh, poor, tragic Blanche. Bethany’s entrance immediately puts us on edge. She’s overwrought and desperate from the top, ready to crack at any moment. Based loosely on Williams’ own well-loved but troubled sister, the role of Blanche is one of the most layered and complex of any female lead from the 20th century. Her fragility is offset by her many strengths, and it is through knowing her strengths that her ultimate destruction brings such a tidal wave of pathos to the text. Bethany seamlessly brings these opposing sides to life, often simultaneously in a single scene. As things start to heat up and fall apart in Act II, we’re right there with her on this doomed roller coaster ride.

Let’s talk about the venue. Big Couch (conveniently located on Desire - is that meta?) is one of my favorite places to see a play because of its intimate size. When the seats are limited to around 40, we are in that run-down French Quarter apartment with these people. I was seated about five feet from the kitchen table. Stanley’s menacing moments are more terrifying, because we might get swatted too. The closeness of the action allows the actors quiet moments of near-whispering, a mode of delivery not possible in larger arenas. When Blanche confesses, “I’ve had many intimacies with strangers,” she might be talking about the audience seated intimately around the players. 

It is this immersive proximity that makes seeing a play at Big Couch a unique experience. (Last year I saw Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? in this venue, and I’d never been more frightened of Martha than in that performance, since she could have slapped me at any moment...and I wouldn’t put it past her!)

It’s a rare treat to see a beloved play in such a setting, and it changes the effect of the performance. I’ve known Blanche well for decades, this being one of my favorite plays, but this is the first time seeing her that brought tears to my eyes throughout the dénouement. I was just as crushed and destroyed as she was, a mere arm’s length away. I left the theater shaken and speechless.

I recommend you grab tickets ASAP, due to the limited seating. The whole cast, and the unique setting, may redefine your understanding of the material, so jump on that rattletrap streetcar through the Quarter and into the Bywater now. You can rely on the kindness of these strangers.

- A Streetcar Named Desire runs at Big Couch through April 3rd. Click here for more information and ticketing. 
- ​More New Orleans theatre news and reviews 
​