Thursday, October 17, 1996
THEATER:
Los Angeles production of Williams’ classic first in 18 yearsBy
Stephanie Sheh
Daily Bruin Contributor
The Williams estate is very protective of Tennessee Williams’
work. "The Rose Tattoo" has not been seen in Los Angeles for 18
years, but all of that is about to change.
The newly-formed Creative Theatre Group, founded by artistic
director Larry Moss, has received the rights to perform the play
and will kick off its premiere season with Williams’ only romantic
comedy. Previews for "The Rose Tattoo," a story of a Southern widow
in the 1940s, start on Friday and the play opens on Oct. 25 at the
Hudson Theatre.
The Creative Theatre Group consists of members of Larry Moss’
studio who are invited to participate in creative projects.
Michelle Danner, who plays Serafina Delle Rose, says that the group
was created out of a desire to work closely with writers and to
develop original material for the stage.
As film and television are drawing more writers away, it is
difficult to find original work written primarily for the stage.
"Writers don’t write much for the theater anymore because there’s
not much money in it. They just write for the television and for
other media, for movies. The material sometimes gets diluted (and
becomes) a little generic. So (the group) could get writers excited
about working closely with wonderfully talented actors to develop
their writing and their plays," Danner says.
While this is the Creative Theatre Group’s premiere season, it
is not the first time that these writers and actors have worked
together. It is just the first time that they have had an official
name. The group, which not only mounts productions, but workshops
and readings, has four years of success behind them. Their history
of opening to rave reviews may explain why the Williams estate
granted them the rights to the play. Danner points out, "It’s not a
company with a set amount of actors. It’s basically all the people
that are at the studio are invited to participate."
Because of this, the Creative Theatre Group has many members.
"Rose" also has an exceptionally big cast. Danner laughs, "It’s 22
people and a goat." She adds that it is difficult to stage big
productions in Los Angeles.
However, an even greater difficulty is not the size of the cast,
but the complexity of the play. "Tennessee Williams is the hardest
playwright, because he’s so complex. The material is so complex. To
really be able to find all the nuances and all the colors is
challenging," Danner says.
The complexities of "Rose" may come from the depth of themes in
the play. Director Deborah La Vine says, "It is about how love
rejuvenates us all and it’s the ultimate need for the human soul.
This play is absolutely about how the search for love can consume
you."
Danner adds, "It deals with the terror of getting close, of
opening up, of letting someone come close."
In the play, Serafina must learn how to open up and be reborn
through love. "She is widowed early in the play and the loss of her
husband absolutely devastates her. It enrages her. It turns her
into an emotional beast," La Vine explains. "And it’s a story of
how a stranger, a truck driver, happens into her life and alters
the course of her life and gives her hope and allows her to be
reborn."
The theme of rebirth through love is also important in the
title, "The Rose Tattoo." "There are tons and tons of endless
references to the image of the rose. But primarily it’s about the
tattoo that the dead husband had on his chest. There’s a notion of
roses and rebirth. Blooming and the sense of opening up, the
peeling open of the heart is beautifully personified by the image
like the rose," La Vine says.
Although "Rose" is a classic play about love in the ’40s, that
does not mean that it lacks the sexual emphasis of the ’90s. La
Vine says, "It’s a very sexy play. There’s a lot of sensuality to
it and there’s a lot of sexual heat. I mean, it’s rip roaring and
you never even see any of it. It’s absolutely 1949 style. There’s
no sort of nudity or foul language and yet it’s as hot as it
comes."
Despite the 1949 style, both Danner and La Vine agree that
everyone can relate to the play, because it is full of universal
emotions.
"Another theme that is insinuated, but isn’t ever resolved
because this was written in the late ’40s, is about culture clash,
ethnic differences and immigration," La Vine says.
"There’s an undercurrent of a racial theme. There are social
issues. The themes that it brings up are as current as today’s
themes," Danner points out. Danner thinks that the contemporary
nature and timelessness of Williams helps make his writing a
classic.
"It’s a classic piece of literature and it’s obviously not done
very often. I think Tennessee Williams is probably one of the two
or three giants of contemporary theater. (Williams), Arthur Miller,
Edward Albee, these are the classics. These are poets of our time.
And if you have a chance to look at his work, it’s very important,"
La Vine says.
Danner adds, "We have good writers. We have wonderful writers,
but there’s only one Tennessee Williams. Williams is important to
go see especially if you’ve never seen a production of ‘The Rose
Tattoo’ before. A play like this comes down every 18 years."
THEATER: "The Rose Tattoo" previews on Oct. 18, 19, 20 and 24
and opens Oct. 25 at the Hudson Theatre. TIX: Previews are $15 and
regular performances are $20. For more info, call (213)
660-8587.