The Stage

A Streetcar Named Desire

Published Wednesday 22 February 2012 at 12:17 by Chris High

In the ever-growing pantheon of fine productions staged by the Everyman Playhouse to have been directed by Gemma Bodinetz, this raises the bar and some.

Matthew Flynn (Mitch) and Amanda Drew (Blanche DuBois) in A Streetcar Named Desire at the Playhouse, Liverpool Photo: Stephen Vaughan

Powerful, engaging acting by all concerned, a beautifully designed turntable set and the incorporation of some enigmatic lighting that is enhanced by some fine set-change jazz all imbue the piece with a heady, oppressively heat-laden atmosphere.

Following on from her superb performance in The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui in 2011, Leanne Best as Stella once again shows her ability to hold on to any character and make it her own. Sam Troughton as Stanley Kowalski struts the stage, chest puffed out with Neanderthalic menace as though this is the one part he has been born for and Matthew Flynn as Mitch juxtaposes Kowalski’s arrogance magnificently with a performance of such crafted understatement it is almost heartbreaking.

Yet as good as these all are, without question it is Amanda Drew in the physically and expressively demanding role of Blanche who truly shines. Pouring every ounce of energy into encapsulating her character’s mental collapse, by the climax Drew can be seen to be so emotionally spent it is a wonder she has the energy to take her much-deserved acclaim.

A truly great play deserves a truly great production and, here, the Everyman Playhouse has once again ticked all the boxes and added a few more besides.