Laura Gonzalez, Spring 2009 Assistant Managing Editor
I had a delightful time Friday, attending the play, “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” directed by Gene Putnam.
Tennessee Williams won a Pulitzer Prize in 1955 for the play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
The play begins with a Southern family that is crumbling down due to many internal problems. Maggie and Brick are a married couple that do not have intimate relations and this pains Maggie.
Maggie tries to seduce Brick, but it is impossible because he repudiates her and also because he is an alcoholic who drinks until he passes out, or as she called it, until he gets “the click.”
Brick, a former football player who was forced to retire due to an injury, is also mourning the loss of his best friend, Skipper, whom he was very close to.
The two men were so close that people suggested they were more than just friends.
Another big theme in the play is lie,s also called by Brick and his father, Big Daddy, Mendacity. Big Daddy is dying of cancer but the whole family lies to him and his wife about it. Brick’s older brother (Gooper) and sister-in-law (Mae) are trying to get all of Big Daddy’s estate when he dies.
The play explores lies in every aspect possible.
There is the lie of the marriage between Maggie and Brick, pretending to be a happy couple when they can not even stand each other.
There is the lie of Big Daddy’s health condition, everybody lying to him and Big Mama to protect them from something that is imminent.
There is the lie about Brick’s relationship with Skipper, trying so hard to convince everyone that it was only friendship when he cannot even believe it himself. Brick sets on a rage every time someone suggests that it was more than a friendship that it is obvious that the person he is really upset at is him for letting society dictate what he ought to feel.
There is also the lie about Gooper and Mae wanting to protect the family estate when all they really want is to protect themselves.
“Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” has an outstanding cast. Javiera Torres, who plays Maggie, is convincing and Ian Loveall, who plays Brick, has a powerful scene with Big Daddy and gives a strong performance.
My favorite performance was Big Daddy’s, impeccably played by Bill Ruehl. He is a delight too see.
Other performance highlights were Stephanie Bergman as Mae and Amir Khalighi as Reverend Tooker, who provided a humorous element to a big drama.
The costumes seemed authentic and appropriate of the time and the set is very well designed. The ambience was so right that it was very easy to be transported back to the epoch.
I highly recommend everyone to see the play before the last performance Sunday. “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” will be presented Saturday and Sunday at 8 p.m, at the Performing Arts Mainstage. More information is available by calling 818-719-6488.
Brett Gever, show-case designer and assistant house manager, dresses a mannequin. The debut performance of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” was Friday. (Aisha Ahal)