Paul Mescal's West End 'A Streetcar Named Desire' Will Transfer to Brooklyn Academy of Music
Paul Mescal and Patsy Ferran in "A Streetcar Named Desire"
(Photo: Almeida Theatre/Marc Brenner)
One of the hottest tickets in London's West End right now is to a very American production. The Almeida Theatre's encore presentation of A Streetcar Named Desire sees Paul Mescal (Gladiator II) reprise his Olivier-winning performance as Stanley Kowalski from the 2022 revival, alongside most members of the original cast, has just opened at London's Noel Coward Theatre, where it will play through the end of February. But, unlike many of the buzziest West End hits, Americans won't have to wait very long to see this Streetcar for themselves: The show is set to transfer to the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York for a five-week Off-Broadway run.
The award-winning play follows the story of one of playwright Tennesee Wiliams's most iconic characters, Blanche DuBois, a Southern belle forced to move to New Orleans to live with her younger sister Stella after a series of personal and relationship setbacks leave her with nothing. Stella's coarse husband Stanley resents Blanche's presence, her airs of grandeur, and her influence on her sister, and sets about digging up all the lies she's told about her past, to devastating results for everyone.
Mescal plays Stanley, opposite Patsy Ferran (Firebrand) as Blanche, Anjana Vasan (We Are Lady Parts) as Stella, and Dwane Walcott (The Thing with Feathers) as Harold 'Mitch' Mitchell.
Paul Mescal and Anjana Vasan in "A Streetcar Named Desire"
(Photo: Almeida Theatre/Marc Brenner)
Here's the production's synopsis.
On a street in New Orleans, in the blistering summer heat, a sister spirals.
When Blanche unexpectedly visits her estranged sister Stella, she brings with her a past that will threaten their future. As Stella’s husband Stanley stalks closer to the truth, Blanche’s fragile world begins to fracture. Reality and illusion collide and a violent conflict changes their lives forever.
Alongside its four leads, the ensemble cast also includes Eduardo Ackerman (Happy New Year) as Pablo Gonzales, Janet Etuk (The Tower) as Eunice Hubbel, Alexander Eliot (Trigger Point) as Steve Hubbel, Gabriela Garcia (Call the Midwife) as Flower Seller-Nurse-Singer, Tom Penn as Doctor-Drummer, and Jabez Sykes as Young Collector. Understudies Rob Dempsey (Protection), Francesca Knight (The Suspect), Curtis Patrick, and Constanza Ruff (Lead Balloon) round out the company.
A Streetcar Named Desire is directed by Rebecca Frecknall, whose updated take on Cabaret is currently running on Broadway. The revival features scenic design by Madeleine Girling, lighting design by Lee Curran, sound design by Peter Rice, costume design by Merle Hensel, and music by Angus MacRae.
The U.S. run is being produced by ATG Productions and Almeida Theatre, Gavin Kalin Productions, Wessex Grove, GGRS and LAMedia Fund with Rupert Gavin/Mallory Factor, Francesca Moody Productions, and Oliver Roth.
A Streetcar Named Desire is playing at London's Almeida Theatre through Saturday, February 22. It will run at the Brooklyn Academy of Music from Friday, February 28 through Sunday, April 6. Tickets for both are available online.
