Mill Town Players "Streetcar Named Desire" Kicks Off Weekend

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

The Mill Town Players take on one of the most important works of American Theater, “A Streetcar Named Desire,” beginning Friday and continuing through Feb. 26. Might want to leave the kids at home for this one.

This Tennessee Williams' drama, and it is a serious drama, follows a Southern family as Blanche DuBois, after losing her Mississippi home to creditors, relocates to the New Orleans home of her younger sister and brother-in-law, Stella and Stanley Kowalski. Undermined by romantic illusions, Blanche is unable to cope with life's harsh realities. Though she finds a glimmer of hope while connecting with Stanley's gentlemanly friend, Mitch, Blanche cannot face the truth of her own troubled past and ultimately descends into madness.

Her oft-repeated line from the play: “Whoever you are, I have always depended on the kindness of strangers,” offers a snapshot of one of theater’s best-known characters.

Mill Town Players Founder Will Ragland said the production has “assembled some top talent from the Upstate to bring this story to life.”

This show is not recommended for children, since some scenes contain physical violence and adult situations that might be found disturbing. Be aware that actors will be using tobaccoless cigarettes (made from cocoa beans). Also, an actor yells, “Fire!” several times in Act 2, and there are also gunshot sound effects.