"Streetcar Named Desire" back on Broadway

Despite time, work and talent, several shows that have opened this season have received poor reviews or little audience attention. Producers have to ask themselves what went wrong.

The new revival of Tennessee Williams’ “Streetcar Named Desire” lacks energy and passion. Starring the incredibly appealing Blair Underwood as Stanley, the play is Tennessee Williams’ classic about Blanche Dubois, a fading Southern beauty with pretensions and airs. This new production of makes a seamless transition into an all African-American cast. The racial makeup of the production does not harm the play in any way and, in fact, adds another dimension as director Emily Mann shows snippets of Creole New Orleans between scenes.

Underwood is a credible Stanley. As eye candy, he often gets catcalls from the audience and is shirtless or sweaty in his tank top. He has audience appeal.

As Blanche, Nicole Ari Parker does an adequate job, with an imperious manner and soft dulcet tone, gently drawling her words. While Stella, played by the feisty Daphne Ruben-Vega, seems to do little more than act upset and weepy throughout the play.

Williams’ play is disturbing, not only because of its homosexual back-story, but more because of the misogynous treatment of women. Stanley hits his pregnant wife who flees to an upstairs neighbor only to return to him almost immediately. The upstairs neighbors have an even louder version of this courting ritual. There's an awful lot of shouting going on during the play, but sometimes it’s not enough to hold your attention.

Blanche can't tolerate the loudness, bestiality and rawness of New Orleans, yet except for decibels as the characters yell, we don't feel much energy. With the exception of the final confrontation scene between Blanche and Stanley, we don't feel the heated emotion.

Where there should be passion and animal magnetism, “Streetcar” is slow, tedious and boring. That’s what went wrong.

For more information about the play, visit http://streetcaronbroadway.com.