When actor Daniel Talley first read the script for “Death of a Streetcar Named Virginia Woolf: A Parody,” he knew the 18th annual Tennessee Williams Tribute in Columbus had something uniquely entertaining in store for its audience. While prior Tributes have mounted productions of Williams’ plays, including his intense Pulitzer Prize-winning “A Streetcar Named Desire” and “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” the mainstage presentation this Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Rosenzweig Arts Center offers a twist — a comedic “theatrical mash-up” by Tim Sniffen and Tom Ryder. It begs the question: What happens when some of the most recognizable characters from some of the greatest American plays of the 20th century suddenly find themselves sharing the same stage?
We find out when Talley and fellow cast members Spence Andrews, Jesse Duncan, Alec Hawkins, Chelsea Petty and Sarah McAnally bring together iconic characters from not only Williams’ “Streetcar,” but also Edward Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf,” Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” and Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town.”
“My first reaction when I read it was, ‘Wow, this has a lot in it!'” Talley said. “It’s a theater kid’s dream come true because it just has so many theatrical references. This is a fun play.”
Parody co-author Sniffen of New York — a veteran of The Second City comedy enterprise — is expected at the Tribute founded by Brenda Caradine in 2001 in Columbus, where Tennessee Williams was born on March 26, 1911. He died Feb. 25, 1983. His first childhood home now serves as Columbus’ welcome center, at 300 Main St.
Full weekend
The mainstage play is one of a dozen “Laugh Lines”-themed Tribute activities planned for Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 5-8. They include Hollyhocks’ Stella Shouting Contest; one-act plays by visiting actors from New Orleans, as well as area actors; the Moon Lake Gala; a poetry contest; a casual breakfast with scholars and playwrights in Tennessee Williams’ first home; a double-decker bus tour; and a library memorabilia exhibit. The TWT weekend concludes Sunday with a related sermon at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, where Williams’ grandfather served as rector.
Rumor has it, too, that Williams himself will revisit the town of his birth this week.
Marthalie Porter chairs the 2019 Tribute, working closely with executive committee members Christopher Blank, Jerry Fortenberry and Keith Gaskin, plus other volunteers who help make the annual celebration a reality.
“Tennessee Williams did have a lighter side, and we wanted to focus on it this year,” Porter said. “We thought it would be different and fun and show people that he had a great sense of humor. We feel like there is something for everybody.”
Mississippi University for Women Associate Professor of Theatre Lee Crouse directs the mainstage production.
“We spend a lot of time laughing during rehearsal,” said Crouse, who is also graduate studies director of the Master of Fine Arts in theatre education. “The audience will hopefully be laughing as much as we have been.”
Innovating humor
The idea to present “Death of a Streetcar Named Virginia Woolf: A Parody” originated with Tribute Artistic Director Christopher Blank. He’d seen it performed in Memphis, Tennessee, where he lives, and thought, “Why don’t we do something that shows Tennessee Williams as a major influencer in American theater? It’s a comedy, but it does two things: It makes light of great theater, but it also brings your attention to it. It shows Tennessee Williams in the pantheon of other great playwrights, like Miller, Albee and Wilder, shows that he is considered one of the great playwrights in American history.”
The hilarity of the play immediately struck cast member McAnally. She portrays Williams’ character Blanche DuBois from “A Streetcar Named Desire.”
“The writing is just incredible … turning these very complicated, often sad characters into comedic characters is a feat, bringing them all together from different backgrounds and storylines.”
Literature fans will “really love the parody of all these characters,” McAnally continued. But even if not familiar with all the plays represented, anyone who appreciates comedy and loves to laugh will enjoy the production, she said.
“The play takes quite a few unexpected twists and turns; I think the audience will be happy to go along on that ride.”
The production does contain some adult language, its director noted.
“Mr. Williams is a highly respected American playwright,” said Crouse. “While this year’s featured play is not specifically a Williams’ piece, it has been fun playing on the many references to his work. The week of events is inspired by his work, and it is nice to see the influence this Columbus native continues to have.”
How to go
“Death of a Streetcar Named Virginia Woolf: A Parody” will be hosted at the Columbus Arts Council’s Rosenzweig Arts Center Omnova Theater, 501 Main St., Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., and Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are $20 for adults; $15 seniors, teachers, military and $5 for students. An all-access Tribute weekend “Desire Pass” is $100.
A complete schedule of Tribute events in downtown Columbus — many of them free — is available at tennesseewilliamstribute.org, or call 662-368-8591.
IF YOU GO:
■ WHO: Tennessee Williams Tribute
■ WHAT: Multiple events in downtown Columbus
■ WHEN: Thursday-Sunday, Sept. 5-8
■ WHERE: Various locations
■ TICKETS: Many events are free; some require tickets. Visit tennesseewilliamstribute.org or call 662-386-8591.
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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