Two Tennessees Not Destined to Transfer??? Date: 10 May 2005
Today’s Tony Award nominations seem to confirm the non-bankability of two British-geared Tennessee Williams’ revivals previously tipped for New York-to-London transfers. The Glass Menagerie (directed by Briton David Leveaux and starring Americans Jessica Lange, who previously had West End hits with A Streetcar Named Desire, and this year’s Whatsonstage.com Best Actor Christian Slater, just seen here in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest - See The Goss, 23 Feb 2005) opened at the end of March, while A Streetcar Named Desire (both directed by and starring Brits - Edward Hall and, as Blanche Dubois, Natasha Richardson - See The Goss, 14 Jan 2005) opened a fortnight ago. However, both received mixed to poor reviews, not to mention unwelcome comparisons. “Mr Hall's generally straightforward staging of Streetcar isn't the hazy, misguided mess that David Leveaux's current production of Williams' Glass Menagerie is,” wrote Ben Brantley in the all-powerful New York Times - faint praise indeed. As far as Tonys go, Streetcar has at least managed three nominations (albeit for costumes, lighting and a supporting role, not for either Hall or Richardson) versus none for Menagerie. Nevertheless, neither production is now likely to make it to the West End as previously hoped.
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