A Streetcar Named Desire (Dramatized)

By: Tennessee Williams

Narrated by: Rosemary Harris, James Farentino

Length: 2 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

Caedmon is proud to release this archival full-cast recording of Tennessee Williams's A Streetcar Named Desire.

Blanche DuBois arrives at her sister Stella's New Orleans apartment seeking refuge from a troubled past but her ethereal spirit irks Stella's husband, the loutish Stanley Kowalski. Crudely, relentlessly, he unmasks the lies and delusions that sustain Blanche, until her frail hold on reality is shockingly severed.

This atmospheric recording of Tennessee Williams's powerful classic stars Rosemary Harris and James Farentino as Blanche and Stanley roles they performed to acclaim in a smash revival at New York's Lincoln Center.

©1975 The University of the South (P)2008 HarperCollins Publishers

“Just the right amount of darkness and chaos”

As per Audible’s request, I, Daniel Valladares, will be composing a critical review on the playwright of “A Streetcar Named Desire”. I begin my writing with a quick note that I took before I even began reading. The title has the effect of being quite literal, yet cryptic at the same time. We acknowledge throughout the story that there is a literal streetcar by which a main character, in Blanche, comes to be in this particular site of New Orleans. However, it has a deeper meaning which we will touch on later on. Let’s lay down the basics by observing the people in the play, many of which can be seen as protagonists or antagonists. For example, Blanche, who seems to be the root of all the others’ problems, can also be pitied and rooted for by the audience. She exhibits a seductive nature, both on paper and on screen. There is also Stella, the sister of Blanche, who hosts her in her home. She can be culpable for the event which transpired against her sister through negligence, but she has also suffered greatly because of the strains her sisters presence has brought about. Stanley, Stella’s husband, is almost seen solely as a villain, but one can attest to him being a man with flaws who is only trying to protect his livelihood. Of the influential and central characters of the plot, the last is Mitch, a friend of Stanley’s that turns into Blanche’s safety blanket of sorts. Through many turmoils they slowly soil all bonds and turn to saving one’s self, even if it means putting the other down. A few of of the most riveting of events to occur were, initially, the unannounced arrival of Blanche and the baggage full of secrets she carried. Stanley’s continued pursuit of unraveling all of the lies Blanche has messily strung together began the rapid downfall of his relationship with his wife. Blanche seduced Mitch after noticing he wouldn’t be difficult to do so with; it seemed to be a plan which would result in Blanche having a financial cushion and reason to stay. The true issue in each scene always came to settle back on Blanche through many a pointed finger, usually by Stanley who had perhaps believed her to be a parasite. The only reason I believe the matter was not resolved earlier and in much more orderly fashion falls on the actions of Stanley. He was blatant in his disapproval of Blanche before everyone and tried to turn ever on against her. He also hit Stella, which prompted Blanche to plead that she leave him, therefore planting the idea in her mind. Of the greatest things held against Stanley is his rape of Blanche and although it was not proven, it is an accusation which is not taken lightly by most characters. In the end, both Blanche and Stanley are equally resented by a majority of the others. The conclusion consists of Blanche being sent to a mental ward as the many lies about her past and the excessive desire she expressed to maintain it proved she was unstable. The overall image which the script painted for me, is one where it portrays all humans as broken in character and proves that most will fall to protecting themselves before they go out of their way to protect others. - Daniel Valladares

Uneven production hinders William's genius

An audio version of Tennessee Williams masterpiece should be what the doctor ordered, however this production falls short. The poetry and the drama are still there but the characterizations leave something to be desired. Here Stanley Kowalski has gone from a New Orleans everyman to a Bronx construction worker who shouts almost everything and Mitch disappears into a forgettable rube. Also the production leans to heavily on background noise that only caused confusion for me. Rosemary Harris gives a good performance as Blanch Dubois but she comes as more desperate than I imagined the character. This is still one of the great American plays written by a one of the great dramatists but there are probably better productions outthere.

Sound mix is loud

Very good story, acting is great but the sound is very bad mixed, beside that very good audiobook

Excellent

Great performance of an excellent play. A lot of heavy themes including empowerment (or lack thereof) of women, the need for illusions under duress, the consequences of insensitivity and lack of patience on a vulnerable person, and on and on...Highly recommended.

fairly accurate to the book version

Some scene are different from the book version but not by a whole lot. for the most part It was easy to follow along

Not PC

the play takes an alarmingly comfortable stance on domestic abuse. I almost feel the premise of the story is a question: "at what point does a woman need to be raped?"

An emotional journey!

Very well played!! I enjoyed the emotional intricacies of each character which were brought to life by the narrators.
My ninth grader is reading this in English literature. The subject matter seems more appropriate for upper high schoolers.

Greg House

Riveting! Truly a performance for the ages . Hope and dreams laid bare in a naked light .

Very nice

Audio quality could be better but it is quite good. If you are following with the book, be aware that some parts may be said differently or might be swapped or changed around.

Performance

The ONLY thing - dependant on your taste - is the narration can get a little loud at escalated points in the play to express the mood/stage directions.