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| A Streetcar Named Desire runs until Saturday |
A VERY special production was needed to mark the Company of Ten's anniversary of 40 years in the Abbey Theatre, St Albans.
It had to be compelling, well-staged and a vehicle to demonstrate the many and varied skills of members of St Albans' premier drama group.
Tennessee Williams' classic, A Streetcar Named Desire, ticks all those boxes and is, without doubt, one of the finest productions the Company of Ten has staged in its 40 years.
The play uses the Abbey Theatre stage to its maximum, converting it into two seen rooms, an unseen bathroom, the street outside and stairs up to the apartments above. Like the Tardis, it is hard to believe so much could be squeezed into such a small space.
But it is incredibly effective, capturing the paucity of Stanley and Stella Kowalski's existence and demonstrating how love can be blind in its first flush.
Of course that all changes when Blanche Dubois, Stella's sister comes to stay with them, and the lives of all the main characters change.
Kate Rainsford is amazing in the role of Blanche, surely one of the most demanding required of any actress. She retains her accent throughout and perfectly captures Blanche's mixture of flirtatiousness and vulnerability.
Her decline from instability through to madness is perfectly captured and her final scene would not have disgraced Gloria Swanson.
Kate's scenes with her sister Stella, an excellent performance from Kerrie Andrews, are utterly compelling. Kerrie brings out Stella's innate sweetness and refusal to believe ill of her sister despite Blanche's sexually-charged relationship with her husband Stanley.
Roger Bartlett is a brooding Stanley, mystified by his glamorous sister-in-law but determined not to be undermined by her. His anger when she crosses the line is completely believable - and the final outcome inevitable.
Making up the four main characters is Simon Nicholas as Mitch, Stanley's friend who is bowled over by Blanche's glamour and her stories. Another excellent actor who has been on the local drama scene for some years, he confidently handles the transition from lovelorn suitor to a proud yet disillusioned man.
A Streetcar Named Desire is directed by Rosemary Goodman who has shown in all her recent work that she has the knack of bringing out the best in her plays, not just on stage but backstage as well.
The production runs until Saturday and tickets can be obtained from the Abbey Theatre box office on 01727 857861 or online at www.abbeytheatre.org.uk
MADELEINE BURTON
© Herts Advertiser 2007. Reproduced by permission