A Review of the Play, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof at Baltimore Center Stage

Back in September, Baltimore Center Stage opened its new season (2018/19) with a bang with the premiere of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. This Pulitzer Prize winning play by Tennessee Williams still sizzled even after 63 years. This time it was directed by Judith Ivey and the set was designed by Adam Koch who captured the setting of a Southern (Mississippi) plantation with precision and charm.

Once I settled into my seat, I was entertained by a superb cast who transported me to the Pollitt’s house on a hot Southern night where family members clashed in greed and desire. I thoroughly enjoyed the play – superbly acted and great dialogue.

The main leading parts were played by real life husband and wife team: Andrew Pastides (Brick - an alcoholic ex-football player) and Stephanie Gibson (Maggie - his wife). Their chemistry on stage was hot despite Brick’s dismissal of his wife’s attempt at getting his attention. My other favorites were David Schramm who played the larger than life character – Big Daddy (who was dying from cancer) and Charlotte Booker who played his wife, Big Mama (who was kept in the dark about her husband's diagnosis).

What I really loved was that it tackled family issues of greed especially when family members learn that someone is dying and circle around like vultures to get their hands on the money. In the midst of it all was the exploration of a father and son relationship and the women who loved them. Great stuff!

Clap. Clap. Clap. Standing ovation. A must see if ever it comes through Baltimore again or if you are in a city where its playing.

Side note - This makes me want to watch the 1958 namesake movie with Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor.

Excellent! Two thumbs up!

For those not familiar with this play, here’s the synopsis from Baltimore Center Stage's website:

In this enduring American classic, family ties and layers of lies collide over the course of one simmering Southern summer night. Themes of morality, greed, and desire play across the stage in this explosive drama about what can happen when illusions begin to unravel. Brick, racked with guilt over his best friend’s death, numbs his pain with drink. Maggie, his wife, is determined to win even fleeting attention from her neglectful husband. But when three generations come together to celebrate a birthday—and discuss a will—all of the players start to crack under the pressure and the heat. How long can tensions build in a house boiling over with uncertainty, secrets, and maybe even love?

Here are some photos:

Enjoy this trailer from YouTube:

https://youtu.be/ZkAaTqrJpco

players start to crack under the pressure and the heat. How long can tensions build in a house boiling over with uncertainty, secrets, and maybe even love?

Content Advisory: Themes of morality, greed, and desire make this steamy classic more suitable for high-school-aged audiences and up.

Comments

It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with Debbie Stokes, author of The Stranger He Knew

Author’s Bio: Debbie Stokes was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. She has always had a desire to be a published author of a fiction novel, but fear stopped her. She often shares how her story ideas come to her in her dreams, and how she jumps up to write them down. Finally, one day, she pushed past her fear and allowed her vision to come to past. She is now a published author, and The Stranger He Knew is her first book. Debbie is a former CEO, blogger, and interviewer for her previous women's empowerment blog called, 3 Women Voices, where she shared empowering stories of how people overcame odds to live their best lives. She is also a former contributing writer for FEMI Magazine, a cultural lifestyle magazine, where she interviewed and shared people’s stories. When not writing, she enjoys singing, dancing, inspiring others, and spending time with family. Deliah Lawrence: What inspired you to write your book? Debbie Stokes: That is a funny story. One day, I went

Interview with Jacqueline Seewald, Author of THE INHERITANCE

Author’s Bio: Multiple award-winning author, Jacqueline Seewald, has taught creative, expository and technical writing at Rutgers University as well as high school English. She also worked as both an academic librarian and an educational media specialist. Sixteen of her books of fiction have previously been published to critical praise including books for adults, teens and children. Her short stories, poems, essays, reviews and articles have appeared in hundreds of diverse publications and numerous anthologies. What inspired you to write your book? I enjoy writing romantic mystery fiction. The idea for this particular novel just seemed to evolve organically from my imagination. Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult? I would have to say reading the Bible was influential. As far as regular books go, I’m a big fan of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Is this your first book? How long did it take to start and

It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with Erica Ginsberg, author of Creative Resilience

Author’s Bio: Erica Ginsberg has drawn on creativity in a variety of different roles: writer, documentary filmmaker, story consultant, project manager, and social entrepreneur. She co-founded the documentary film organization Docs In Progress and served as its founding executive director for more than a decade. She co-hosts The D-Word, a peer-to-peer global community for documentary professionals. In addition to working in the arts, Erica has organized professional development study tours to the United States for mid-career professionals from around the world. She has a BA in international affairs and an MA in film and video. She finds joy in travel, painting, collage, reading, nature hikes, and spending time with friends, family, and her dog, Lulu. Note: The most valuable piece of writing advice she has ever given is m ake bad stuff so you can get to good stuff. Really great advice for those of us who lean towards perfectionism. Deliah Lawrence: What inspired you to write your b

Vocal Expressions

Search This Blog