'A Streetcar Named Desire' rolls onto River Campus stage next week

Southeast Missouri State University students will bring Tennessee Williams' 1947 play "A Streetcar Named Desire" to the River Campus next week.

In the play, an emotionally fragile Blanche duBois is an aging Southern belle forced by circumstance to move in with her pregnant sister, Stella, and Stella's brutish husband, Stanley. What follows is a study of Blanche's descent into madness, spurred on by Stanley's behavior and Stella's inability to bring the situation to resolution.

Williams set this play in New Orleans, dealing with themes such as alcoholism, mental illness and possible homosexuality, but this is a story of characters who are pushed to extremes by their natures and their choices. That's what initially drew Roxanne Wellington, associate professor of theater at Southeast, to the play.

"I played Blanche in a production years ago, and this story has always resonated with me," she said. "Tennessee Williams is one of my favorite playwrights, so when the play was chosen for our season on the River Campus, I was thrilled to be asked to direct."

Wellington said this season, the focus is on more of a classical theater feel, and in keeping with that, the production crew and actors are attempting faithfulness to the source material with modern relevancy.

Cidney Woodson, as Blanche, left, and Kelli Jaycox, as Stella, rehearse a scene in "A Streetcar Named Desire" on Wednesday at the Rust Flexible Theatre.Fred Lynch

"We wanted the grittiness of New Orleans, the flavor of the time period, but we didn't want people thinking this is dusty old Tennessee Williams," she said. "Our costume designer and I worked together to create a vintage look that doesn't turn Stella into a frumpy or mousy woman cowed by her husband. Above all, this play is about why these people are making the choices, having the reactions. And our actors are doing a brilliant job exploring their characters."

Sophomore Jay Wade plays Stanley, Kelli Jaycox plays Stella, and Cidney Woodson plays Blanche.

"We had many talented students audition for the lead roles, and with our pool of talent this semester, we felt 'Streetcar' was the obvious choice," Wellington said. "I knew Jay was Stanley the moment he entered the audition space."

She said it could have been tricky for another actor for the "Stella" moment.

"It's such an iconic moment, but he truly makes it his own, makes it a real and honest moment that is Stanley's pain," Wellington said.

Cidney Woodson, as Blanche, right, and Emmani Cunningham, as Eunice, rehearse a scene in "A Streetcar Named Desire" on Wednesday at the Rust Flexible Theatre.Fred Lynch

That was the real challenge with this play, she said: "People have such an image in mind with this play. Whether they've seen another production or the film or they just know the pivotal moment in the final act, they have expectations. That can be tough, even for seasoned actors, so with our students, we really worked to think about why with these characters. In real life, people struggle with the same issues that are on stage. Why does Stella stay with a man who is a boor? Well, because she loves him -- it's a much more complex question than a simple black-and-white answer."

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Oct. 29 and 2 p.m. Oct. 30 in the Rust Flexible Theatre.

Tickets are $18.50 and may be purchased by contacting the River Campus box office inside the Cultural Arts Center, 518 S. Fountain St., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays; by calling (573) 651-2265; or online at RiverCampus.org/a-streetcar-named-desire.

Kelli Jaycox, as Stella, left, and Cidney Woodson, as Blanche, rehearse a scene in "A Streetcar Named Desire" on Wednesday at the Rust Flexible Theatre.Fred Lynch

Pertinent address:

518 S. Fountain St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.