Four of Mr. Williams' lesser-known, but still powerful plays. "Summer and Smoke" - also known as "Eccentricities of a Nightingale" - is a sensitive character study of two small-town children, a doctor's son and a preacher's daughter. We follow the relationship of the wild boy and the prim girl through early adulthood, when we discover they have learned from each other, and taken on attributes of the other. Sad, poetic, and poignant. Beautiful.
"Orpheus Descending" - also known by its filmed version titled "The Fugitive Kind" - is another small town tragedy revolving around a sensuous traveling minstrel and the neglected wife of a dying department store owner. Both are looking for something more from life, and they find it, however briefly, in each other. A haunting story, spun with the gold of Tennessee Williams' words.
"Suddenly Last Summer" - the original play upon which the Elizabeth Taylor and Katherine Hepburn film was based - is another stunner. Eccentric characters and a bizarre story of abandonment, homosexuality, cannibalism, carnivorous plants, and emotional bribery combine in a horror story of murder and insanity. One of Tennessee Williams' best, IMO.
"Period of Adjustment" is not my favorite play. The comic story of two couples on Christmas eve. In my opinion it commits the ultimate sin for a comedy - it's just not funny. But, that's only my opinion. Obviously, others disagree, as it was made into a successful film with Jane Fonda and Anthony Franciosa. But not my cup of tea. It's more situation comedy than the usual depth of emotional despair created by Mr. Williams. Still, better than most situation comedies, I suppose. It does have a lot to say about returning veterans from war (in this instance, the Korean War).
I would grab this book, if you have the opportunity. These short plays are terrific to pick up over and over again, as there is always something to discover, even after many readings.
"Orpheus Descending" - also known by its filmed version titled "The Fugitive Kind" - is another small town tragedy revolving around a sensuous traveling minstrel and the neglected wife of a dying department store owner. Both are looking for something more from life, and they find it, however briefly, in each other. A haunting story, spun with the gold of Tennessee Williams' words.
"Suddenly Last Summer" - the original play upon which the Elizabeth Taylor and Katherine Hepburn film was based - is another stunner. Eccentric characters and a bizarre story of abandonment, homosexuality, cannibalism, carnivorous plants, and emotional bribery combine in a horror story of murder and insanity. One of Tennessee Williams' best, IMO.
"Period of Adjustment" is not my favorite play. The comic story of two couples on Christmas eve. In my opinion it commits the ultimate sin for a comedy - it's just not funny. But, that's only my opinion. Obviously, others disagree, as it was made into a successful film with Jane Fonda and Anthony Franciosa. But not my cup of tea. It's more situation comedy than the usual depth of emotional despair created by Mr. Williams. Still, better than most situation comedies, I suppose. It does have a lot to say about returning veterans from war (in this instance, the Korean War).
I would grab this book, if you have the opportunity. These short plays are terrific to pick up over and over again, as there is always something to discover, even after many readings.
Summer and Smoke
Two children grow up. Their personalities do not change. Pointless drivel: not even entertaining, but hey, that's me!
Orpheus Descending
Honky-Tonk guitarist tries to change his luck in a southern one-horse town. Several ladies come on to him and get him into one fix after another. Too bad he never realized that the townspeople were a bunch of bigoted nut jobsâparticularly the sheriff who seems to be the local vigilante leader. Well he still doesn't get it and makes it with his boss. Transmogrify into Orpheus trying to get her out of town. One way or another everyone will lose.
Suddenly Last Summer
Mom's son has died and her niece knows how it happened; and in the words of Nancy Grace "SHE'S GUILTY!" Mom wants the niece to admit her guilt; unfortunately, the niece has been in the nut house. Enter Dr. Sugar. He gives the niece the ole truth serum and extracts the bizarre story from the niece, which mom will not accept. Dr. Sugar acknowledges that she may be telling the truth. The end. Oh, by the way son died in South America and the family has copies of the police report and investigation but we are not made aware of their contents. There is no indication that the family has perused them, nor has Dr. Sugar. So, while the ending has shock value due to the nature of son's death, mom won't accept niece's story and wants her lobotomized. The play provides more questions than answers. Why is the girl in the asylum in the first place? What is the conclusion of the police investigation? Did the son die in the weird manner related by the niece? Who's really crazy: the niece or mom?
Period of Adjustment
Two married couples have falling outs, talk about their respective relationships, and try to analyze where they went wrong without admitting it. This all occurs in the house of the couple that has been married for six years. The house, incidentally, is slowly crumbling into the ground, as is their marriage. The other couple is in their second day of marriage and has not been able to consummate it. It's difficult to believe that two of the main characters in this play were Korean War fighter pilots. Their speech is a mixture of southern and uneducated. In the end they reconcile, but don't look for a Noel Coward ending here.
Two children grow up. Their personalities do not change. Pointless drivel: not even entertaining, but hey, that's me!
Orpheus Descending
Honky-Tonk guitarist tries to change his luck in a southern one-horse town. Several ladies come on to him and get him into one fix after another. Too bad he never realized that the townspeople were a bunch of bigoted nut jobsâparticularly the sheriff who seems to be the local vigilante leader. Well he still doesn't get it and makes it with his boss. Transmogrify into Orpheus trying to get her out of town. One way or another everyone will lose.
Suddenly Last Summer
Mom's son has died and her niece knows how it happened; and in the words of Nancy Grace "SHE'S GUILTY!" Mom wants the niece to admit her guilt; unfortunately, the niece has been in the nut house. Enter Dr. Sugar. He gives the niece the ole truth serum and extracts the bizarre story from the niece, which mom will not accept. Dr. Sugar acknowledges that she may be telling the truth. The end. Oh, by the way son died in South America and the family has copies of the police report and investigation but we are not made aware of their contents. There is no indication that the family has perused them, nor has Dr. Sugar. So, while the ending has shock value due to the nature of son's death, mom won't accept niece's story and wants her lobotomized. The play provides more questions than answers. Why is the girl in the asylum in the first place? What is the conclusion of the police investigation? Did the son die in the weird manner related by the niece? Who's really crazy: the niece or mom?
Period of Adjustment
Two married couples have falling outs, talk about their respective relationships, and try to analyze where they went wrong without admitting it. This all occurs in the house of the couple that has been married for six years. The house, incidentally, is slowly crumbling into the ground, as is their marriage. The other couple is in their second day of marriage and has not been able to consummate it. It's difficult to believe that two of the main characters in this play were Korean War fighter pilots. Their speech is a mixture of southern and uneducated. In the end they reconcile, but don't look for a Noel Coward ending here.
