Cate Blanchett plays superb Blanche in "A Streetcar Named Desire"
Cate Blanchett's portrayal of Blanche in "A Streetcar Named Desire" wowed me last night. She convinced me that she really was Blanche. She seemed to always have tears in her eyes, she trembled, she held her arms close as if protecting herself, and she generally appeared to be always on the verge of collapse.
I was really lucky to get a ticket. My dad and I got to the BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) theater two and a half hours before showtime and found a line 10 people long waiting for returns (the show sold out in the spring). The line eventually grew to 30 and never seemed to advance--i.e., no returns. Luckily, my dad had brought a sign "Need Tickets" and stood outside the theater. He got a front row seat from one woman and a seat farther back from another. The first ticket was $100 and the second woman gave him the ticket for free!
My dad gave me the front-row seat, which turned out to be the best in the house. I was on the left side of the stage, where much action happened, so I was six feet from the actors, including Cate Blanchett, and I was on the stage itself (in the dark).
On top of getting a great seat, we were treated to a post-show discussion with the cast. I got to hear Cate Blanchett's Australian accent and I heard her discuss acting in general and her approach to this role.
What a treat to see such a talented actress.
Picture of ticket line for "A Streetcar Named Desire"
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