STREETCAR Reviews

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 4/22/12 at 1:15am

Today is Sunday, April 22, marking the official opening night performance of A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, starring Two-time Golden Globe Award nominee Blair Underwood and Nicole Ari Parker in a multi-ethnic Broadway revival, at the Broadhurst. Emily Mann directs the drama that began previews April 3.

The cast is led by Underwood as Stanley, Parker as Blanche DuBois and two-time Tony nominee Daphne Rubin-Vega as Stella Kowalski. Also appearing are Carmen de Lavallade as Stanley and Stella's Mexican neighbor, Wood Harris as Blanche's suitor Mitch.

Best wishes to all involved!

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 4/22/12 at 9:54am

At the risk of sounding unintentionally snobbish, given what I've heard about the distracting impact of general audience decorum, I very much wish I was seeing the opening tonight.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 4/22/12 at 12:33pm

MMMMMMMMM HMMMMMMMM!

[egghumor]

Posted: 4/22/12 at 7:57pm

Mark Kennedy - AP : Favorable
Mark Kennedy -- Associated Press review

[BroadwayMan5]

Posted: 4/22/12 at 8:06pm

http://www.backstage.com/bso/reviews-ny-theatre-broadway/ny-review-a-streetcar-named-desire-1006840552.story

Backstage is negative

or maybe we can call it a pan

"Helmer Mann and her starry cast treat the work as if it were a combination soap opera and sitcom. The result is embarrassing and sad."

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 4/22/12 at 8:06pm

Backstage is negative:

http://www.backstage.com/bso/reviews-ny-theatre-broadway/ny-review-a-streetcar-named-desire-1006840552.story

"Indeed, it seems as if Mann and company have deliberately set out to strip the poetry from Williams' themes, characters, and especially his dialogue. The great playwright is shown no kindness here."

Updated On: 4/22/12 at 08:06 PM

[egghumor]

Posted: 4/22/12 at 8:11pm

and why is the "roundup" giving us the Variety review of the Anthony Page/Natasha Richardson production???

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 4/22/12 at 8:13pm

Yikes. That's bad!

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 4/22/12 at 8:19pm

USA Today is mixed (2.5 out of 4 stars)

http://www.usatoday.com/life/theater/reviews/story/2012-04-19/a-streetcar-named-desire-broadway/54476174/1

Updated On: 4/22/12 at 08:19 PM

[egghumor]

Posted: 4/22/12 at 8:35pm

Talkin' Broadway: Negative
http://www.talkinbroadway.com/world/StreetcarDesire2012.html

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 4/22/12 at 8:45pm

The Faster Times is mostly positive except for strong criticism of Nicole Ari Parker:

http://www.thefastertimes.com/newyorktheater/2012/04/22/a-streetcar-named-desire-review-on-broadway-with-a-black-blanche/

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 4/22/12 at 8:48pm

The Hollywood Reporter is positive!

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/a-streetcar-named-desire-theater-314871

[BroadwayMan5]

Posted: 4/22/12 at 8:50pm

I would call the Hollywood Reporter review mixed, maybe mixed to positive, but not just positive

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 4/22/12 at 9:15pm

The Philadelphia Inquirer is a rave!!

http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/148452505.html

[perfectliar]

Posted: 4/22/12 at 9:38pm

Variety is mixed-to-positive:

"Nicole Ari Parker, Blair Underwood and Daphne Rubin-Vega, the stars of Emily Mann's striking production of "A Streetcar Named Desire," offer no subtle psychological insights into Blanche, Stanley and Stella. But the physical beauty and sexual magnetism they bring to these iconic characters would surely delight Tennessee Williams -- along with auds who might appreciate some kicks with their culture. The only downside to the production coup of looking good (witness the handsome set, gorgeous lighting, nice costumes, and great sounds) is that much of this bold beauty is only skin deep."

http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117947418

[singer73192]

Posted: 4/22/12 at 10:16pm

NY Times is up and quite the pan.
http://theater.nytimes.com/2012/04/23/theater/reviews/a-streetcar-named-desire-at-the-broadhurst-theater.html?hpw

[chanel]

Posted: 4/22/12 at 10:22pm

Villagevoice.com is mixed, but kind-ish.

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/dailymusto/2012/04/streetcar_of_co.php

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/22/12 at 10:24pm

I'm really surprised by these reviews. I thought this would be very well received especially since Parker is giving a FIERCE performance on that stage.

[LaCageAuxFollesFan]

Posted: 4/22/12 at 10:30pm

with these kind of reviews (especially the NY Times), I don't if Tony will be too generous on nomination morning. Thinking best revival might look like:

Death of a Salesman
Wit
The Best Man
Master Class or Don't Dress for Dinner (depending on how its received)

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 4/22/12 at 11:00pm

Chicago Tribune is mixed to positive.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/theaterloop/sc-ent-0422-streetcar-broadway-review-20120423,0,7857799.column

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 4/22/12 at 11:02pm

Bloomberg Businessweek is positive (3 out of 4 stars)

"Grounded in powerhouse performances by Blair Underwood as Stanley Kowalski and Nicole Ari Parker as Blanche DuBois, the latest, mostly black, Broadway revival of “A Streetcar Named Desire” is extraordinarily moving."

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 4/22/12 at 11:05pm

Newsday is mixed:

http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/theater/latest-streetcar-solid-aggressive-effort-1.3675952

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 4/22/12 at 11:07pm

The New York Post is mixed to negative (2.5 stars) with a scathing review of Underwood.

http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/theater/substandard_stanley_MSiCly5m92C8E52H042LVP

[bjh2114]

Posted: 4/22/12 at 11:18pm

I'd call the Times negative, but I wouldn't call it a pan. He actually had one or two things to say that weren't vitriol. And we all know what a real Brantley pan is like: 100% venom.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/22/12 at 11:23pm

Exactly. He would have used the N word.