Williamstown Theatre Festival, Wiliamstown, MA
through July 17, 2016
by Jarice Hanson
Director
Tripp Cullman has taken a fresh approach to Tennessee Williams’ most
upbeat play, “The Rose Tattoo.” In the Williamstown Theatre Festival’s
first production of the season, Marisa Tomei embodies the lusty Serafina
who struggles with her daughter, her dead husband’s checkered past, and
her own carnal desire in this multi-layered production. Tomei is funny,
sympathetic, and physically perfect as a Sicilian immigrant in a
geographically-vague community of immigrants in an ambiguous
Gulf-community. She delivers her lines with exquisite comic timing and
physical punctuation that extends through her fingertips.
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| Photo by Daniel Rader |
She is well-matched
by a cast of top-notch actors and newcomers, including energetic small
children and even a goat. Lindsay Mendez has a rich bold voice, and
sings folk tunes that help shape the mood of the scenes, and Christopher
Abbott as the Italian truck driver who is “the grandson of the village
idiot” and the man who ignites Serafina’s passion, are standouts in the
play. Constance Shulman and Barbara Rosenblat (both familiar to
audiences from “Orange is the New Black”) have smaller roles, but bring great characters and depth to the storytelling.
The
scenery, lighting, sound, costumes, and the projection of rolling waves
are blended beautifully, and at times, actors enter on a ramp from the
back of the audience in this large theatre. In addition, some scenes
are played on the ramp, giving extra dimension to the production and
adding a level of intimacy to the thoughts and desires of the
characters.
The
production is distinguished by the physicality of the cast and the
sense of space. Like much of Williams’ work, the play invites us to
identify with every character, tradition, and desire, and this
production celebrates the life that like the Gulf waters, continually
wash over us with both human fragility and strength. This is a beautiful
production that brings insights to the work, and celebrates life, love,
and heartache. It’s a tribute to an American master, and to the way
theatre illuminates the human condition.
