Why do crazy people make the best characters? Maybe because their actions make us laugh. Or, if they are truly crazy, they scare the crap out of us. Either way, Tennessee Williams really goes crazy with the crazy in A Streetcar Named Desire. And I’m pretty sure my dog is insane, so he fit the role of Blanche DuBois perfectly.
The play starts out with troubled Blanche DuBois coming to New Orleans. (“Troubled” is putting it mildly. She’s broke, homeless, jobless, and has been sleeping where sleeping dogs lie. But that’s all a secret.)
Appearing as a prim and proper lady (note the brooch)
She’s come to hide from her problems visit her pregnant sister, Stella, after getting fired taking a leave of absence from her school-teaching job. She’s lost Belle Reve, the family home, because she is an irresponsible psycho is irresponsible.
Blanche “confiding” in her sister
Stella’s domineering husband, Stanley Kowalski, does not like or trust Blanche because she is a judgey snob who tries to convince his wife she is too good for Stanley. (For a guy who looks like a prison inmate, he has good instincts. But I guess it takes a manipulator to know one.)
Instant Enemies
Stanley has a guy’s poker night where his friend Mitch becomes interested in Blanche. There’s tension and alcohol which naturally turns the night violent, and a radio gets thrown out a window.
Mitch, Blanche, Stella, and Stanley at Poker Night
Blanche and Stella seek protection in an upstairs neighbor’s apartment, but Stanley yells out passionately for Stella.
Stellllllaaaaaaaaa!
Blanche is blanched (sorry, couldn’t help myself) that this display entices Stella to “make up” with Stanley.
A chaste kiss
Stanley’s friend, Mitch, and Blanche are both lonely and sad, so they go on a date.
Who let the dogs out?
But Stanley discovers Blanche’s scandalous past (an affair with a teen student and other seedy behavior) and spreads the gossip to Mitch, who stands her up on her birthday (I know she’s crazy, but that’s still rude). Later that night, Stella gives birth and when they are alone together, Blanche spurns Stanley, who then proves himself to be a dog/unfaithful husband/even worse brother-in-law/terrible human being.
Blanche vs. Stanley
All of this results in Blanche’s (not unexpected) nervous breakdown. Which Stanley eagerly uses as evidence in convincing Stella to send Blanche to an insane asylum. Stella can’t believe anything her sister says because Blanche is basically living in a delusion about going off with a millionaire.There’s crying and struggles and all around depression. Except for Stanley. Who gets everything he wants.
Welcome to the Psych Ward
Ultimately, the bad guy wins. I guess that’s a lesson high school and college teachers believe their students need to learn before entering the real world, which is why this play is always on some English lit. class syllabus.
DramaDogz 