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Trinity
Rep's Timely Return of Tennessee Williams
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Kerri
Kanelos
October
9th 2005 |
|
 In
light of recent events in the United States
and around the world, many people are searching
for God, the meaning of life, or a spiritual
connection-anything that can explain the tragedies
that continue to surround us every day. The
great American playwright Tennessee Williams
often tackled these feelings in his pieces,
including Suddenly Last Summer that is now
playing at Trinity Repertory Company. Directed
by Mark Sutch, this is the first Williams'
play showing at Trinity Rep in over fourteen
years.
Williams' writing
style, referred to as "southern gothic,"
usually includes outrageously tragic stories
and discussions that consume his characters.
Suddenly Last Summer is no exception. This
rarely performed piece hints at the underbelly
of society-incest, greed, deception, fear
and even cannibalism. Most characters in this
piece, no matter how innocent they seem from
the beginning, end up showing the ugly side
of the human condition at some point during
the performance.
The story centers
on Mrs. Venable (performed by Trinity veteran
Barbara Meek), a once-powerful socialite who
is determined to learn about the situation
surrounding her son Sebastian's death in Cabeza
de Lobo, Spain. From Mrs. Venable conversations,
one can determine that she sacrificed her
own life for her son's quest to become a famous
poet. She often followed him to the ends of
the earth, including soirées in Paris
and a particularly disturbing trip to the
Galapagos Islands in which Sebastian felt
he saw the face of God when carnivorous birds
feasted on newly hatched sea turtles. The
only witness to the death was Sebastian's
cousin Catharine (performed by Brown/Trinity
Rep Consortium graduate Miriam Silverman)
who now resides at St. Mary's mental institution.
Set Designer
Fritz Szabo transformed the Dowling Theater
into a once-majestic early 20th century New
Orleans' estate with a "well groomed
jungle" of vines, exotic flower, venus
flytraps, and other flora collected during
Sebastian and Mrs. Venable's globetrotting.
It is here on the patio that Mrs. Venable
comes face-to-face with Catharine to learn
the truth. She also brings along Dr. Cukrowicz
(performed by Fred Sullivan, Jr.), an experimental
scientist who is performing lobotomies at
Lion's View Hospital. Since she is the matriarch
of the family, Mrs. Venable must decide whether
Catharine is telling the truth or so mentally
ill that she needs a lobotomy to stop the
nightmares.
The cast is
rounded out by Mrs. Holly (Cynthia Strickland)
and George Holly (Matt Robinson), Catharine's
mother and brother that have not been in her
presence since she was committed. Trinity
regular Janice Duclos plays the patient role
of Sister Felicity, Catharine's nurse from
Saint Mary's. Robin Galloway is Miss Foxhill,
Mrs. Venable's maid.
Although this
piece is shorter than most of Williams' work,
a little over an hour in length, the performance
is full of rich dialogue. The cast seemed
well rehearsed in keeping the audience's attention,
even during the lengthiest monologues. Since
this is not considered one of Williams' best
works, the cast and crew at Trinity did an
exceptionally entertaining rendition of Suddenly
Last Summer. Given the themes discussed during
this performance, I think many people will
leave deep in thought about their own lives.
Suddenly Last
Summer is playing now through November 6th
at Trinity Repertory Company. Call the box
office at (401) 351-4242 for ticket and performance
information or visit their website at www.trinityrep.com. |
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