Posted 6/9/08 by Randy

Review: Yesterday I and a friend went to see “Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris”. and it was so comforting to see that his spirit is alive and well and is presently in Mill Valley. I have such strong memories of seeing the show many years ago in Beverly Hills with Amanda McBroom, George Ball, and Joe Masiell that it was wonderful to hear the songs sung again and yet made me feel quite sad and angry to think that really nothing has changed since the first time I heard the show on vinyl excepting that greed and warmongering are even more rampant.

Posted by: Molly Horan & Tara Sullivan, June 3, 2008

Review: Tres magnifique!
If you haven’t already run right out and get tickets to this superb production!! Brel’s lyrics enthrall and his music will have you begging for more. And KUDOS to the cast - such divine voices - again and again we wanted to leap to our feet! Merci beaucoup!

Posted 5/29/08 by Liz Atterman:

Last night’s performance of Jacques Brel was absolutely fantastic! We loved the four actors and their amazing voices (each one of them STELLAR) and the music, set, and choreography were fabulous. It was truly a spectacular evening for us! You are all to be congratulated!

Posted by Bernice Goldmark

Review: Like many other MTC fans I thought, “Oh no! Not another Streetcar”. But kudos to the director, cast, set designer, costumer, composer, and all else involved in this complicated production. At the beginning I thought it was over-acted, but soon I was totally riveted on Blanche, and finally ended up in tears.

Carrie Paff did an unbelievable performance. It’s a very difficult role, but I never thought she was acting. She was awesome. Gabriel Marin’s Mitch was also so natural that the scenes between Blanche and Mitch were very real and moving.

I had never seen a production of Streetcar in which the sexual attraction between Blanche and Stanley began as soon as they met. It was different but was fitting for this production.

I can’t even imagine the hard work that went into this production. I hope that Director Minadakis and all who were involved know that it is appreciated.

Posted by Randy Hicks

Review: I am now back home after spending the afternoon with Blanche, Stella, Stanley and the rest of the cast, and I am in a such a great mood. I have seen this play quite a few times and sometimes with names that are very well known to theatregoers, and yet I found this small theatre company presenting one of the best productions of the play that I have seen. I appreciated that Blanche was closer in age to what T. Williams’ wanted than what has become expected- a well known but older actress playing the part. I also found the casting of Mitch interesting. I don’t remember what age Williams indicated but it makes sense that Mitch could be close in age to Stanley. However, it is Gabriel Marin who brought new shades to the role of Mitch and though younger and better looking than sometimes is the case made the part fit him. In fact I think he may be the best realized Mitch I have ever seen. And I for only the second time of seeing the play really believed that Blanche and Stella were sisters and not just two actresses playing sisters. And then to Carrie Paff I must say I think she is one of the best Blanche I have seen. There is another more famous actress that probably has the number one spot in my heart but her effect was hurt in the second act by the Stanley in that production and directorial decisions. The Stanley of Daniel Thomas May was much more satisfying in this production as was the direction.

I want to add that I was moved to tears in the final scene and was blown away by the simple gesture of the doctor’s brushing Blanche’s hair back into place. It was a wonderful moment for me, and I wondered if that was the director’s or actor’s choice or just happened spontaneously. The only thing on this 1st viewing that I did not really like is the ending scene between Stanley and Stella. I think I like that scene to be more an understated indictment of what Stanley has done to Blanche and to underline that his relationship to Stella has forever changed, because I think it would be changed. I can see that the good sexual chemistry between them would help them but seriously doubt that that would be enough for Stella to forget and forgive that Stanley was the final straw in Blanche’s life. And as an earlier reviewer noted the Stella of Arwen Anderson does handle the delicate job of being torn between her love for her sister and the love of her husband with great skill and understanding of who each of them are.

I am now thinking that I may have to make the trip back to Mill Valley to relive the experience of one of the great plays in the American theatre library.

Posted by Sarah Goss

Review: My mom and I saw A Streetcar Named Desire last night at the Marin Theatre Company. We both thought it was some of the most riveting theatre we’ve seen in our lives. We were absolutely glued to the stage throughout. Brilliant cast, brilliant production. Huge emotional intensity. It’s still with me today. I hope you can go see it if you’re in the Bay area!

Posted by Arika Mittman

Review: I had the good fortune of being able to see Streetcar’s opening night on April 1st and as a lifelong fan of Williams and the show, I found myself falling in love with both all over again, as well as with what I thought was an exceptional cast. Arwen Anderson’s Stella was the first performance I’ve seen of the role that brought her out of her “supporting role” shell and made her a credible love/lust interest for Stanley’s raw sexuality. Instead of the usual oblivious, innocent Stella, Anderson’s expertly layered version of Stella is wise enough to both her husband and her sister’s ways leaving her torn apart in anguish over having to choose between them. Carrie Paff’s desperate Blanche flirts with Stanley almost from the get-go, in a more honest and nuanced portrayal of the character than I’ve ever seen. I am a tough critic when it comes to a show I’m so passionate about, and this production did not at all disappoint. Much credit is due across the board on this one.

Posted by Peter Gavin

Review: What a play — thank you for bringing us such a fabulous production.  My wife and I were there as part of Teachers Night Out, and again, I can’t thank you enough for the evening.  We really wanted to stay for the Q and A, but it was so late when it ended, and I had a very early meeting the next morning…but had we stayed I would have told you it was hands down the best production I’ve ever seen of SND (and I’ve seen a few); we are blessed to have such quality in little old Mill Valley.  In particular, Blanche absolutely blew me away, especially with her lilting poetic delivery; it was absolutely mesmerizing.

Posted by: Rosalie J. Wolf
The theatre really took my breath away.  Great play, wonderfully produced, directed and acted.  Interesting how a high quality small regional company can make theatre so magical –– more so in many ways than all but the very best Broadway experiences.

Posted by: C. Stewart

When did Streetcar become a comedy?