Despite some Rocky Moments, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is Worth a View

Theatre in the Park chose the Tennessee Williams? classic, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, for its latest show. Though the production was not perfect, it manages to effectively portray the happy, longing-for-something 1950s southern family which the show centers on.

The set, designed by Stephen J. Larson, is a thoroughly realistic portrayal of a Mississippi plantation home, made all the more real by the sounds of crickets in the background and southern-evening style lighting, also by Larson. Shawn Stewart Larson?s costumes are all excellent as well. These elements, plus director Ira David Wood IV?s decision to open the show with mournful country music followed by stark blackness, combine to immerse the audience in the world of the family, and what a sad world it is!

Sarah Bousquet?s ?Maggie? is absolutely perfect?gorgeous, husky voiced, selfish, sometimes funny, and believably desperate for the love of her husband Brick (Rob Rainbolt). Bousquet?s moments on the stage are some of the very best of the entire show. While most of the cast is strong, including Rainbolt whose character is so eaten up with ?disgust? that he?s often hard to watch, it?s impossible to look away when Bousquet takes the stage. John T. Hall has some shining moments in his role as crotchety ?Big Daddy,? though he gets off to a slow start and fumbles a few of his lines. Minor characters Doctor Baugh (Randy Jordan) and Reverend Tooker (Mike Rumble) do well and memorable in their small roles.

On opening night, the production had some technical bugs to work out; the lights went out for a brief moment but, to its credit, the cast picked right back up without a hitch. Unfortunately, one poor directing choice couldn?t be overlooked. In the first act, ?Maggie? and ?Brick? scramble around breathlessly in a fight containing important back story. Unfortunately, much of the exposition turns into a screechy mess as a result, which may leave some first-time viewers of the play confused until later in the show.

Though this Williams? piece is a long one (three hours!) and deals with many difficult themes, perfectly-timed intermissions and a few strong actors make it worth a watch. It?s not the kind of show that one leaves feeling happy and uplifted, but it certainly gives the viewer a lot of things to think about.

VN:F [1.9.17_1161]

Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)

masters golf tournament the replacements how to hard boil eggs new nfl uniforms easter derbyshire the matrix