Live Performance Review - A Streetcar Named Desire

Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire was recently staged at Arts Centre Melbourne in the Playhouse theatre, and it’s reasonable to say it was nothing short of masterful. Anne-Louise Sarks directed this eminent tragedy; the production of the distinguished play not only met but exceeded my high expectations in unanticipated ways. 

Nikki Shiels, whom I had previously seen star in the poignant one-woman show Girls and Boys, delivered an impressive performance as Blanche DuBois. Her characterisation of this dainty but deeply insecure person had such an unadulterated depth and sensitivity that drew me in from the very start and held me captive until the very end. Shiels' Blanche was riveting and tragic, divinely embodying the character's internal conflict and sombre demise with great accuracy. Her battle with the past and spiral into mental instability were shown with an intensity that was impossible not to be entranced by.

Mark Leonard Winter’s Stanley Kowalski was equally compelling. Winter brought a raw, unfiltered charm to the role, capturing Stanley’s arrogance, violence, and domineering nature while also revealing his more vulnerable, human side. Blanche and Stanley's tumultuous relationship perfectly encapsulated Williams' exploration of class strife and the struggle between traditional Southern gentility, as well as Stanley's narrow-minded representation of the harsh new world.

Also notable was Michelle Lim Davidson's portrayal of Stella Kowalski. Stella's conflicted allegiances and emotional complexity were well conveyed by Davidson. Her depiction of Stella's devotion to Stanley but long history of love for her sister Blanche, as well as her battle to be true to herself in the face of upheaval, was complex and thrilling.

One of this production's best aspects, though, was Sarks’ direction. The set design was visually arresting and quite inventive. The revolving home was more than just a dramatic device—it resounded powerfully with the play's study of the tension between external and internal appearances, symbolising the divide between the characters' minds and realities. The constantly shifting set mirrored the turbulence in the characters’ lives, adding emotional depth to a melodrama that already was so tense. 

One particularly creative aspect was the raised room above the main downstairs setting. This space not only served as the home of upstairs neighbours Steve and Eunice Hubbell but also provided a unique visual perspective. When the characters below recounted stories, the elevated room allowed these narratives to be visually represented, augmenting the storytelling with a beaming dual viewpoint in an impressively subtle way. This avant-garde use of space accentuated the play’s recurring themes of illusion versus reality.

Seeing this chilling drama during Melbourne’s chilly winter gave it an extra layer of intensity and resonance, a raw edge that seemed to magnify the play's intense emotions and themes of aggression, deceit, and longing. This rendition of A Streetcar Named Desire—one of my all-time favourites—was truly a masterpiece.

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A Streetcar Named Desire ran at the Arts Centre Melbourne from the 9th of July to the 17th of August. For more info, click here.