Presents a collection of ten critical essays on Williams's play "A Streetcar Named Desire" arranged in chronological order of publication.

One of the most important plays of the twentieth century, A Streetcar Named Desire revolutionised the modern stage. This book offers the first continuous history of the play in production from 1947 to 1998 with an emphasis on the collaborative achievement of Tennessee Williams, Elia Kazan, and Jo Mielziner in the Broadway premiere. From there chapters survey major national premieres by the world's leading directors including those by Seki Sano (Mexico), Luchino Visconti (Italy), Ingmar Bergman (Sweden), Jean Cocteau (France ) and Laurence Olivier (England). Philip Kolin also evaluates key English-language revivals and assesses how the script evolved and adapted to cultural changes. Interpretations by Black and gay theatre companies also receive analyses and transformations into other media, such as ballet, film, television, and opera (premiered in 1998) form an important part of the overall study.

A Streetcar Named Desire (1947) and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1955) are major plays by Tennessee Williams, one of America's most significant dramatists. They both received landmark productions and are widely-studied and performed around the world. The plays have also inspired popular screen adaptations and have generated a body of important and lasting scholarship. In this indispensable Reader's Guide, Thomas P. Adler: - Charts the development of the criticism surrounding both works, from the mid-twentieth century through to the present day - Provides a readable assessment of the key debates and issues - Examines a range of theoretical approaches from biographical and New Criticism to feminist and queer theory In so doing, Adler helps us to appreciate why these plays continue to fascinate readers, theatregoers and directors alike.

Inhaltsangabe:Abstract: This paper will compare and contrast the written form of Tennessee Williams' play A Streetcar Named Desire with the 1951 movie version. It will explain and discuss the major differences between the two, focusing on the issue of censorship as it was an important factor in the development of the play from its Broadway form into a film. As this paper will show this was due to the fact that during the 1940s and 50s the world of theater in America was much more permissive than that of film. This paper will also examine Williams' concept of a 'plastic theater', an innovative approach by him which utilized music, sound effects, movement and lighting to express abstract themes. His idea of a 'plastic theater', was closer to the world of film than to the traditional form of the stage and is evident in A Streetcar Named Desire. It influenced the adaptation of the play to the big screen. The play A Streetcar Named Desire opened at the Ethel Barrymore Theater, New York City, on December 3, 1947. Following The Glass Menagerie it was only the second of Williams' plays to be performed on Broadway. Despite his relatively short history on the New York stage Streetcar was a great success, running for 855 performances. It also became the first play to win all three major awards: the Pulitzer Prize, the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award, and the Donaldson Award. Film makers were for two years uninterested in turning the play into a motion picture despite its overwhelming popularity. This was because A Streetcar Named Desire did not fit the standard Hollywood model for movies in the 1940s which was one of clean, wholesome family entertainment. Only William Wyler, one of Hollywood's most commercially successful directors at that time, was interested. He thought that it had the potential for box-office success, given both its popularity and its critical recognition. However, later he abandoned the project because of the censorship requirements. In 1951, the film A Streetcar Named Desire was released, directed by Elia Kazan. It had grown directly out of the New York stage production, which he had also directed. Tennessee Williams wrote the screenplay for the film together with Kazan, remaining close to the original text. Virtually the entire cast was retained for the movie, including leads Marlon Brando (as Stanley Kowalski), Kim Hunter (Stella Kowalski), and Karl Malden (Harold Mitchell or Mitch). However, as Blanche DuBois, Jessica Tandy [...]

A Study Guide for Tennessee Williams's "A Streetcar Named Desire," excerpted from Gale's acclaimed Novels for Students.This concise study guide includes plot summary; character analysis; author biography; study questions; historical context; suggestions for further reading; and much more. For any literature project, trust Novels for Students for all of your research needs.

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer a look into key elements and ideas within classic works of literature. CliffsNotes on Glass Menagerie & Streetcar Named Desire explores two popular plays, both of which take place in the South and borrow heavily from author Tennessee Williams’s own life experiences. Following stories marked by struggle among loved ones, this study guide provides summaries and critical commentaries for each scene within the works. Other features that help you figure out this important work include Personal background on the playwright Introduction to and synopsis of the plays In-depth analyses of the cast of characters Review section that features interactive quizzes and suggested essay topics Selected bibliographies for both plays Classic literature or modern-day treasure — you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.

Seminar paper from the year 2008 in the subject American Studies - Literature, grade: 1,3, Catholic University Eichstätt-Ingolstadt (Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaftliche Fakultät), language: English, abstract: "A Streetcar Named Desire is a lyrical drama about the decline and fall of Blanche DuBois." (Londre, 1979: 78). In this quotation Felicia Hardison Londré indicates that both the character and the inner development of the protagonist Blanche are the focus of attention in "A Streetcar Named Desire". At first glance, Blanche DuBois may seem superficial, even a bit ridiculous on account of the importance she attributes to her looks and to her former social status. However, in my way of thinking, the protagonist's behaviour is in a certain way symptomatic of society itself, even of humanity as a whole. That may be why "Walcott Gibbs referred to A Streetcar Named Desire as 'a brilliant impacable play about the disintegration of a woman, or if you like, of a society.'" (Nelson 1961: 121). Therefore, I consider it crucial to allow insight into the multiple facets of Blanche's personality. All the same, before approaching the caracterization, it is in my opinion necessary to provide you with some basic information about the writer of the play and its contents.

Theatre program.

This is a collection of thirteen original essays from a team of leading scholars in the field. In this wide-ranging volume, the contributors cover a healthy sampling of Williams's works, from the early apprenticeship years in the 1930s through to his last play before his death in 1983, Something Cloudy, Something Clear. In addition to essays on such major plays as The Glass Menagerie, A Streetcar Named Desire, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, among others, the contributors also consider selected minor plays, short stories, poems, and biographical concerns. The Companion also features a chapter on selected key productions as well as a bibliographic essay surveying the major critical statements on Williams.

Unlock the more straightforward side of A Streetcar Named Desire with this concise and insightful summary and analysis! This engaging summary presents an analysis of A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, which tells the story of two very different sisters, Blanche and Stella, who are forced to live together after Blanche loses both her job and the family home. However, the genteel, highly strung Blanche soon clashes with Stella’s boorish husband Stanley, and their volatile relationship hastens her impending mental and emotional collapse. A Streetcar Named Desire won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and is one of Tennessee Williams’ most celebrated plays. Williams’s other works include The Glass Menagerie, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Suddenly Last Summer, and he is widely considered to be one of the greatest American playwrights of all time. Find out everything you need to know about A Streetcar Named Desire in a fraction of the time! This in-depth and informative reading guide brings you: • A complete plot summary • Character studies • Key themes and symbols • Questions for further reflection Why choose BrightSummaries.com? Available in print and digital format, our publications are designed to accompany you on your reading journey. The clear and concise style makes for easy understanding, providing the perfect opportunity to improve your literary knowledge in no time. See the very best of literature in a whole new light with BrightSummaries.com!