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Has any major production of A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE cast an age appropriate actress (30, or so) for the role of Blanche Dubois? For all the popularity of the play, and the character, it’s crazy how the enduring interpretation of it is so skewed from the text.
Blanche is about five years older than Stella, who is mid twenties. That places her at just around 30. Jessica Tandy was late thirties when she originated the role. Leigh was mid thirties. Each production since has dipped older and older though and it’s so odd.
I love STREETCAR,m and Blanche. And it’s a role that sustains many interpretations. But it’s a different play if Blanche IS considerably older than Stella. It makes her coyness about being younger frantic and ridiculous. And I find so many interpretations frame her like that.
Isn’t the play more arresting and haunting if Blanche is merely 30 and the hostility of the world makes her feel like she’s fading at that young an age? If she’s already mad when steps off that streetcar. What’s the point of the play?
I really want to write something about this. A truly beloved character in theatre, so much has been discussed about and yet so often it feels she’s still misunderstood.
(This does, incidentally, align with Hamlet being played by men in their thirties into forties into fifties. Changing the play from one of youthful uncertainty from childish indecision into something more fickle and less sympathetic.)
