Review of play: "CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF"

Review of play:  “CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF”  =

I was pleased to attend a Preview performance of the above play at the RAVEN Theatre in Chicago.  Here are my thoughts about it:

...  While watching this Tennessee Williams play (which won him his 2^nd Pulitzer Prize for his 1955 Broadway production of it), it’s fascinating to keep in mind that, when written, the subject of HOMOSEXUALITY was considered a very “SHOCKING” theme to deal with, & thus various characters in the play came across as especially “striking” for the times…

…  In this Raven performance, Maggie (Margaret) is played by LIZ FLETCHER as the wife of Brick (JASON HUYSMAN).  In the first of three acts, she almost never stops TALKING as she tells Brick that his rich landowner father Big Daddy (JON STEINHAGEN) has been found to have cancer, & urges Brick to work to try to be sure he gets his proper SHARE of the estate for the two of them…

…  She is such a spoiled dynamo, you yourself feel like Brick reacts in the play--  namely, EXHAUSTED by having to deal with her, & literally “driven” to DRINK as he does to try to “dull” her impact… He has to use a crutch due to an injury, & he’s severely tempted to HIT her with it as she keeps railing on & on about his shortcomings, his unwillingness to go to BED with her, “rumors” about his “unusual” friendship with an old male FRIEND of his who’d died, & the “evils” of his brother Gooper (GREG CALDWELL) & his regularly-pregnant wife Mae (ELEANOR KATZ)…

…  Act 2 is strongly taken over by the loud, hurtful & bombastic demands of Big Daddy, who treats almost everyone like crap.  He’s accustomed to brow-beating others to get his way, and unaware of the true results of his recent tests at the hospital…  Gooper & Mae know the results of the tests, &, as time meanders by (in the 2½ hour play), we see their machinations of trying  to curry Big Baddy’s favor, sort of abetted by Reverend Tooker (MICHAEL BOONE)…

…  Everything starts to come “APART” relationship-wise by Act 3:  When the truth comes out regarding Big Daddy’s health, his wife Big Mama (JOANN MONTEMURRO) is at first disbelieving, shocked, angry & then unexpectedly ASSERTIVE as Gooper & Mae try to coerce Big Daddy into giving them special “FAVORS” concerning the disposition of his holdings, which in part involves putting down Brick & his lack of “manly” actions & attitudes…

…  Altho more than 50 years old, the play RETAINS its raw POWER, thanks to the FINE ACTING by the entire company, particularly by Eleanor, Jon & Joann who play the most compelling characters with robust aplomb.  I’d rate this 9.00 out of 10 stars.

The RAVEN Theatre  is located at 6157 N Clark Street in Chicago.  Phone #: 773-338-2177.  Web-site:  raventheatre.com ...