|
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Cygnet Theatre Company  How long can a cat walk on a hot tin roof before jumping
off, and what drives her to stay up there as long as possible? In the case of
this classic Tennessee Williams drama, the “hot tin roof” is Maggie’s marriage
to a man who can’t love her either emotionally or physically. And what keeps
the Cat from jumping off is an intense desire even hotter than the roof, richly supplemented by the fortune her husband could inherit if his father Big Daddy
drops dead.
Cygnet Theatre Company continues their unbroken string of hit shows with this powerfully staged production that combines great script, great actors, and great direction for an intense evening of theatre. The lovely Jessica John stars as the childless Maggie the Cat with a sultry Southern accent. And she has a lot to say with that accent in the first scene as she marvelously gossips whimsically about the neighbors, argues cat-like with her baby-machine sister-in-law Mae, and flirts, cajoles, and occasionally feuds with her husband in frustration. Most of this falls on, if not deaf, then certainly withdrawn ears as her husband Brick (Francis Gercke) just wants to be left alone so he can quietly get drunk, trying to find some mental peace from the pain he has endured ever since the death of his best friend Skipper – a friendship that lies at the crux of their marital problems. The play truly comes to a head when Big Daddy confronts his son Brick about his drinking and marital issues, forcing his son to listen through both physical and mental dominance (aided by Brick’s weakness for alcohol). The tense battle of wills and emotions is riveting as Francis Gercke and Jim Chovick square off in this masterfully portrayed scene – Big Daddy demanding to get to the root of the problems and Brick weakly attempting to flee, finally relenting and allowing more family secrets to be aired, but to whose victory? Jim Chovick gives an extraordinary performance as Big Daddy, the pompous, chauvinistic, bigoted patriarch who was temporarily cowed by thoughts of his own mortality, but is now re-empowered after getting what he believes is a clean bill of health. The cast includes excellent performances by Melissa Fernandes as the brown-nosing but sensitive daughter-in-law Mae, Tom Stephenson as Big Daddy’s elder but disliked materialistic son Gooper, and Sandra Ellis-Troy as Big Mama – a woman who is emotionally and financially dependent on her monster of a husband no matter how he hurts her. Mae and Gooper's children, used as pawns by their parents, are heard but not seen in this production. It all takes place in Maggie and Brick’s bedroom where a golden cupid mocks the entire family from above the bed. Williams’ characters, each so human and struggling with such conflicting emotions and base motivations of love, hate, dependency, addiction, and greed, make for an evening of magnificent drama laced with wry humor. And in the hands of Director Sean Murray and his cast, you’re not likely to see any better than this compelling production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.Performs through July 10, 2005.
~ Cast ~
Big Daddy: Jim Chovick Big Mama: Sandra Ellis-Troy Brick: Francis Gercke Maggie: Jessica John Gooper: Tom S. Stephenson Mae: Melissa Fernandes Doc Baugh: Paul Bourque Reverend Tooker: Michael Thomas Tower Director: Sean Murray Scenic Design: Sean Murray Lighting Design: Eric Lotze Sound Design: M. Scott Grabau Costume Design: Michael Dondanville II Stage Manager: Rosalee Barrientos |