Review: Splendid CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF at Group rep
By: Don Grigware Oct. 05, 2015
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof/by Tennessee Williams/directed by L. Flint Esquerra/Group rep at Lonny Chapman Theatre/through November 14
Greed and mendacity overtake the Pollitt family in the Mississippi Delta in 1955 on Big Daddy's (Kent Butler) 65th birthday. He is dying of cancer but is told that he is suffering from a spastic colon. Mendacity. Margaret (Madeline Fair) denies gossip that she and husband Brick (Daniel Kaemon) are sleeping apart. The denial is a lie. Gooper (Todd Andrew Ball) and wife Mae (Kyra Schwartz) swear to have Big Daddy's back. More mendacity. Brick denies unspeakable devotion to football pal Skipper. Mendacity, mendacity, mendacity. The plantation reeks of it. The only truth that exists is that Big Daddy does hate his relationship with Big Mama (Diane Frank) and is not afraid to tell it to the world.The Pollitt family give new meaning to the word dysfunction. Who would want to celebrate anything with them? But somehow Tennessee Williams manages to get us to care for Maggie, Brick, Big Daddy and Big Mama. Gooper, Mae and their no.neck monster children... we can definitely live without. Now in an appealing production at Group rep directed meticulously by L. Flint Esquerra and with an outstanding cast, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof still manages to grab hold and move us.
Maggie the Cat, as she calls herself, is desperately waiting, waiting. From poverty and ignored, now even by her husband Brick, who is locked into an alcoholic daze, she hangs on, planning to get Big Daddy to will the plantation to her and Brick. Mae is expecting her sixth child. Maggie is barren. Big Daddy wants a grandchild...from Brick, the son who matters most to him. Most know the plot from the 1958 hit film with Liz Taylor and Paul Newman, so it seems useless to go any further with story details. It takes some great acting and direction to pull us in and keep us riveted. Esquerra is careful with every detail. Background noise and outbursts from the party downstairs, sudden sly entrances from the kids or the maid Sookie (Felicia Taylor E.) or from Mae spying on Maggie and Brick...the misfit minor characters like Reverend Tooker (Scott Dewey) or Doctor Baugh (Bruce Nehlsen), whose subtle reactions speak volumes...it's a treat to watch.
I was somewhat disappointed in the casting of Fair as Maggie. She's a strong actress, but perhaps a tad too old for the role and in her first scenes underplays the vivacity and sensuality that make Maggie so attractive. Once she gets going, though, her commitment to Maggie's scheme, intent and love of Brick are nicely played out. Kaemon is stellar as Brick, pulled into a world of self-pity and disgust with himself. Ball is wonderful as the bumbling, stupid Gooper as is Schwartz with the nosy, outspoken Mae. Butler makes Big Daddy, in spite of his nasty shortcomings, honest and concerned about the state of the family, especially Brick's condition. Diane Frank is deliciously spirited conveying Mama's overly-abundant loyalty to Big Daddy's every abusive utterance. When you take a close look here, it is plain to see how All in the Family's Archie and Edith Bunker came to fruition. And the kids (Mia Banham, Jacob Accardo, Andrew C. Grigorian and Lily Daugherty) are delightfully rambunctious and excellently choreographed by Esquerra.
Chris Winfield has designed one of the nicest sets in memory for this stage. I particularly like the antiques and the spacious summery veranda adjoining Brick's bedroom.
A word or two of praise to Group rep. The Williams plays are two examples of the fine work that the group is capable of. In the past they have made some bad decisions in their choice of plays and in casting, but with persistence and hard work they have achieved a first-rate level with the last few plays this season. Keep up the great work!
As with A Streetcar Named Desire, this Cat on a Hot Tin Roof has director Esquerra's stamp of perfection written all over it. He has overall created a tightly knit production that ardent fans of Tennessee Williams should admire.
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