Bold performances
make Streetcar shine

It was a full house on March 8, when A Streetcar Named Desire was performed by North Lake Theatre. Opening night attracted a large audience and a few extra seats were brought in to accommodate the crowd.

The campus’s large Performance Hall sat empty as audiences were treated to NLC’s alternate performance space. The Arena Theater seats approximately 130 people. A longer run was scheduled to give North Lake Theatre patrons a chance to see this classic play performed.

Director Alice Butler said a reservation list was used, but no one was turned away if they had not made prior arrangements. The company wanted to give everyone a chance to see this magnificent production.

The play, by Tennessee Williams, is set in the French Quarter of New Orleans. I was swept away by the intimacy of the smaller performance arena, and the emotions of the actors. I felt like I was actually there in the French Quarter sitting in the hot, damp air.

The set was authentic. Every effort had been made to make it realistic. The choice of the smaller arena over the larger Performance Hall was made to personalize the production for the audience and let them get involved with the cast. It worked.

I felt close enough to actually feel everything conveyed by the actors. Butler’s team knows how to pick a powerful and talented cast, and she did a brilliant job of directing the players.

When I spoke to one of the audience members, he was enthusiastic about the performance. “I was blown away, just speechless,” said Bryan Hopkins. “It was riveting.”
North Lake Theatre’s Sara Ragsdale played the role of Blanche and, based on this performance, I know we will be seeing more of her. Hayley Tibbets gave a wonderful performance as Stella. This brings us to Bryan Pitts. Wow! He was spectacular as Stanley.

Thomasa Dunlap made acting look effortless, and Jamaal Baty was perfect in the role of Steve.

I can’t wait to see what North Lake Theatre has planned for its next production in fall 2006.

Cast

Strange Man....................................J Higginbotham
Sailor..............................................John Lackey
First Woman....................................Trish Robertson
Eunice Hubbell.................................Thomasa Dunlap
Stanley Kowalski..............................Bryan Pitts
Stella Kowalski.................................Hayley Tibbetts
Steve Hubbell...................................Jamaal Baty
Harold Mitchell..................................Nick Clowers
Vendor.............................................Annelyn Alexander
Blanche Dubois................................Sara Ragsdale
Pablo Gonzales................................Eloy Corral II
Young Collector................................George White III
Mexican Woman...............................Kristi Smith
Nurse...............................................Lyndsey Colwell
Doctor..............................................John Lackey

Professional Staff
Alice Butler, Michael McKee, John Moseley, Tory Padden.

Student staff
Crystal Holub, J Higginbotham, Laura Suarez Guitierrez, Brandon Olechna, Lyndsey Colwell, Daniel Trevino, William Gray, Morghan Shannon, Kristi Smith.