'A Streetcar Named Desire' opens at Bush Theater
Themes of love, loss and abuse were portrayed by Central Michigan University Theatre during the first show of “A Streetcar Named Desire” April 8 at Bush theatre.
“A Streetcar Named Desire” is a Pulitzer Prize winning play set in New Orleans in the 1940’s, written by Playwright Tennessee Williams. The University Theatre production was directed by Communication and Dramatic Arts faculty member Steve Berglund and will run April 11 at 7:30 p.m. and at 2 p.m. on April 12 in Bush Theatre.
“I went for my Theatre and Interpretation class, but I was familiar with the play because I studied it throughout high school as well," said freshman Sara Gomez-Perez. "I was upset they didn’t make the rape that occurred in the play more obvious. It was downplayed a lot.”
The Rochester Hills freshman said she thought the actors did a great job, and said the main characters—Marcie Herbert as Blanche, Jack Valutis as Stanley, and Kaija Luusua as Stella—portrayed their characters really well.
The curtain opened to show Blanche DuBois, a schoolteacher from Mississippi, arriving at her sister Stella Kowalski’s New Orleans apartment because she had run into trouble after losing their family inheritance and having a fling with one of her teenage students. Blanche quickly discovers Stella’s husband, Stanley, is abusive after witnessing him hit Stella. The play moves through the themes of abuse from there.
“I wasn’t expecting the abuse that was in the play,” said Hartland sophomore Melissa Remijan. I think it’s really good to address on a college campus. I hope the play shows how that kind of abuse is not OK.”
Remijan also added she appreciated the acting and the New Orleans accents from the performers. She came to the play to support her friend who was in it, and for her TAI class.
Tickets can be purchased through Ticket Central by calling (989) 774-3045 or online at cmich.edu/ticketcentral. They are $7 for students and seniors, $9 for the public or $10 at the door.
