By James Bean
For the Daily Titan

"A Streetcar Named Desire" stars, Brian Rickel (Stanley), left, Molly Stilliens (Stella) and Bethany Mangum (Blanche). Photo by Chad Uemura.

After “Rumors” closed its three- week run in the Young Theatre, many students wondered if the final main stage production of the season would be able to fill its big red shoes.

As the Daily Titan has been reporting, the set, costumes and characters in the coming “A Streetcar Named Desire” have been more than enough to fill the Young Theatre to the seams and make the toughest theater-goer ask for the tissue box.

“A Streetcar Named Desire” is the tale of an aging Southern belle named Blanche DuBois.
After losing her family’s fortune and estate, she seeks out her sister, Stella, in New Orleans for a place to stay.

Although her sister is more than welcoming, her husband, Stanley, does not appreciate an outsider coming in and changing his sexual and animalistic relationship with Stella.

The conflict between husband and wife, and eventually between Blanche and Stanley, reaches a fever pitch before plunging into a gripping climax.

Tennessee Williams’ classic tale boasts a number of merits and accolades, including a Pulitzer Prize, a few Tony Award nominations in 1948 and a slew of Oscar nominations and wins in 1951 when it was adapted into a film starring Marlon Brando and Vivien Leigh.

In 1999 the National Film Registry selected the film version of “A Streetcar Named Desire” for preservation at the Library of Congress for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” As you can see, we have quite a magnificent story on our hands. They don’t just give anyone that Pulitzer Prize.

“Williams gives his actors gifts,” said Jason Oles, who plays Mitch in the show. “He has such beautiful words in these amazingly tragic circumstances.”

When asked what they liked most about the show, most of the actors had something to say about William’s poetry and language.

“He is as close to Shakespeare as we are going to get right now,” said Bethany Mangum, a senior acting student who plays the famous role of Blanche.

Mangum and Oles, who have been dating for almost five years, ironically play romantical opposites in the show.

The couple said it hasn’t made things awkward but instead made things a lot easier.

“A lot of actors have to try and work for that intimacy,” Oles said. “We took care of that intimacy thing about four years ago.”

Director Kari Hayter was told to submit proposals of shows that she would like to direct as a part of Cal State Fullerton’s master’s program.

Hayter said “Streetcar” is a show she has always wanted to do, but because of its sexual, dramatic and shocking content, she was unable to see it on her former high school stage.

“I want to do plays like ‘Streetcar,’” Hayter said. “I want to do plays with edge and risk.” The cast couldn’t think of enough words to describe their praise for Hayter.

“I will work with Kari Hayter anytime, anywhere, on anything,” said Brian Rickel, who will portray Stanley Kowalski.

“Stanley is a role I have always wanted to play,” Rickel said, although he has a few words for the people who will come into the audience and expect to see Stanley played as a monster.

“We can’t see Stanley as inherently bad,” Rickel said. “The audience should wonder if Stanley is bad, or if Blanche is good.”

Rickel also had a mouthful to say about the playwright, Tennessee Williams.

“I have been in love with Tennessee Williams for years,” Rickel said, adding that Williams didn’t need to add “a single swear word” to the play to make it intense.

“There is one goddamn, and I think that’s it,” Rickel added.

The audience should be warned that this is not their grandmother’s version of “Streetcar,” Hayter said.

“It is a little untraditional,” she said.

Nontraditional lighting and staging, however, cannot change the drama behind this mammoth of a play.

“Maybe they will hear the story in a new way,” Hayter said. “Maybe they will be moved in a way they didn’t expect to be.”

“A Streetcar Named Desire” will begin its run in the Young Theatre Nov. 13.

Tickets are $10 for general admission and $9 for students.

Tickets may be purchased at the box office near the Nutwood Parking Structure, or online at Fullerton.edu/arts/events.

Also see Behind the Scenes: Part 1 – Costume Creation

Behind the Scenes: Part 2 – Set Design