Nicholas Thornton
Staff Writer
The Jackson State University’s College of Liberal Arts and Department of Speech Communication & Theatre will debut “A Streetcar Named Desire” written by Tennessee Williams and directed by Yolanda Williams on Sept. 29.
This story chronicles the continuous struggle young adults go through while maturing into adults. One of the characters, Blanche Dubois, is a young woman who is currently dealing with the everyday struggles of life, and one day she decides to flee from Mississippi with a secret that could ultimately destroy and shatter the existence of her fragile life.
Williams believes the storyline is perfect for college students.
“This production is right on time for the freshmen! The characters in this play are young adults. They are not too old, not too young. So I think a lot of the students will be able to relate to the production because these characters are trying to live out their lives. Much like how the students are trying to find themselves while living out their lives while attending college,” said Williams, a visiting professor in the Department of Speech Communication & Theatre.
Through all the late night rehearsals, cast members can fully agree that “A Streetcar Named Desire” is relatable to student life and they also believe that this play has helped manifest their untapped potential while performing on-stage.
Bre Hunter, a junior theater major from Kansas City, Mo., portrays Stella Kowalski in the play, and believes that the message of this story is about doing what you have to do to survive. Her message to the audience is to clarify that life will throw obstacles in one’s path, but it is up to the individual to make the right decision.
“This show is continuously pushing me toward my true potential. It is definitely expanding my horizons on how I look at my role and this production has changed how I analyze a character before I tap into that character during the production,” said Hunter.
The play also showcases the hardships of becoming an adult and delves deep into topics that hit home for many, such as abuse, infidelity, and mental illness.
Syderrick Maiten, a sophomore speech communications major from Greenville, Miss., portray Steve Hubble, a neighbor of Stella and her husband.
Maiten describes his character as more of a laid back husband who likes to get under his wife’s skin.
“Our marriage is totally different. For example, if I’m getting off work and I know I haven’t been around a woman I would purposefully spray on some women’s perfume and wait for my wife to respond. If she reacts negatively, it turns me on,” said Maiten.
With only a year of acting under his belt, Maiten claims that acting is more of a goal than a challenge.
“You have to be different. You have to put yourself into that character. My goal is to channel a different personality within myself because I want to move far in this industry, maybe even to the big screen,” Maiten added.
“A Streetcar Named Desire” will run Thursday, Sept. 29 to Monday, Oct. 3. On Sept. 29, the show will debut at 7 p.m. On Friday, Sept. 30 there will be a High School matinee at 10 a.m. and a 7 p.m. showing for the general audience and college students. Cost of admission for students and senior citizens is $5 dollars and $10 for the general admission. For more information, call 601-979-5956 or 601-979-4309.
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