Rehearsals for the new Horsecross production of Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire are on track and creative director Ian Grieve is planning to use all the theatrical toys at his disposal to convey the original stage directions in the tense and emotionally charged classic running at Perth Theatre in November.
As a man of the theatre, Tennessee Williams wrote some detailed stage directions into his scripts ranging from the practical to the surreal. Grieve is planning to use the latest technology to bring many of these complex instructions to life and interpret the imagery that runs as a constant undercurrent in the play.
Computer projections, filming and hidden cameras are just some of the tools that Grieve will employ. The production will also play on the senses of the audience as Grieve is experimenting with piping the aroma of bananas and coffee into the auditorium to recreate not only the sights and sounds of the French Quarter in 1940's New Orleans, but, also the smell.
Grieve says of Tennessee Williams:
"I am convinced that if he were alive today and was acquainted with some of the theatrical toys we now have at our disposal he would have a ball, using them all, stretching the possibilities of their use simply to represent the magical, dream-like, memory symbolism he employed in order to engage an audience with a story."
A Street Car Named Desire stars Amanda Beveridge as faded Southern belle, Blanche Dubois and Suzanne Donaldson as her sister Stella. The two women come from a disappearing world of privilege and aristocracy, a lifestyle for which Blanche still yearns, while Stella has reconciled herself to downtown life with passionate but brutish husband Stanley, portrayed by Kenny Blyth.
The production runs from Friday 7th November to Saturday 22nd November at Perth Theatre. For tickets, call Horsecross Box Office on 01738 621 031 or click here.