A Streetcar Named Desire
at Woodbridge Senior High School

Reviewed on February 5, 2016

Robert Mourad
Teens and Theatre
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Prince William

The darker sides of human nature have always held a deep fascination for people, as is proven by even a cursory overview of the history of literature and theatre. ‘A Streetcar Named Desire' is a play of such nature; for it shows the descent into madness of Blanche DuBois. The combination of deeply painful past emotional trauma and the harsh refusal of her brother-in-law to permit the fantasies that make up the fabric of her sanity drive her deeper and deeper into the black and joyless comfort of madness.

‘A Streetcar Named Desire' was written by Tennessee Williams, who set it in the late 1940's in the French Quarter of New Orleans. The show's first stage performance was in 1947, for which it won a Pulitzer in 1948. It starred Jessica Tandy and Marlon Brando. The movie adaptation in 1951, again starring Brando, and the movie quickly won four Academy Awards, three of which were for best acting.

Woodbridge Senior High School performed admirably in this emotionally challenging work. Their capable portrayal of the characters on stage kept the audience in constant suspense. Danny Waldman (playing the harsh Stanley Kowalski) is particularly notable. His adherence to character, his displayed devotion to Stella Kowalski (superbly played by Fatima Dyfan), and his testy temper all excellently define the rough and ‘common' man.

Perhaps the most disturbing character in the play is Blanche DuBois (Victoria Nolan). This "fine lady's" slow descent into madness is the key cornerstone of the play and Nolan captured the intricacies of her character's eccentricities nicely.

The play was not without some smaller issues. The sound cues, though few, were plagued by a persistent buzz in the speakers, a veritable clarion call that a sound cue was coming. Some actors occasionally stumbled on their lines, and some of their actions, such as ‘lighting' cigarettes and ‘drinking' alcohol, lacked realism.

These things do not, however, diminish much from the overall power of the play. The cast as a whole used accents to great effect, lending a very authentic air to the New Orleans setting of the play. Live music arranged and performed by Caroline DiPaolo, Mike McClafferty, and Courtney Petko provided pleasant ambiance and thematic underpinnings during scene changes.

A play may be good with strong leading actors, but a play that is excellent has talented actors in lesser parts as well. That was clearly the case here, as the many actors in such roles are quite talented. One audience favorite, Celeste Taica (portraying Eunice Hubble), is a lively and dominating force on the stage. Her skill is not alone, as she and many others kept scenes moving during the deep silences that pervade the story.

Overall, the cast and crew of Woodbridge Senior High School produced an excellent show. Their heartfelt performances kept their audience riveted, and they should feel pride in their accomplishment.

Emily Lachow
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Prince William

With the slam of a screen door, a gulp of whiskey, and the cautious steps of a woman far from home, Woodbridge Senior High School welcomed its audience to Elysian Fields. Their production of A Streetcar Named Desire captured one woman's journey to find the common ground between fantasy and reality with climactic bursts and intimate lulls.

A Streetcar Named Desire, written in 1947 by Tennessee Williams, is famed for its blunt, allegorical depiction of societal expectations in the South. It was first performed on Broadway in 1947, starring Marlon Brando, and subsequently won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1948.

Danny Waldman's Stanley was a force of unbridled fury and passion. His imperiousness culminated in a terrifying display of domination. However, despite his character's bullying nature, Waldman portrayed Stanley with an outstanding depth and vulnerability. His scenes with his wife, Stella (Fatima Dyfan), were both electrifying and tender, and her energy easily matched his. Dyfan inhabited her character with a devoted grace and fierceness, and demonstrated versatility in her acting while still making defined character choices. Stella's sister, Blanche (Victoria Nolan) unraveled slowly with each sip of alcohol; her constant poise contrasted pleasantly with Stanley's carelessness. As Eunice, Celeste Taica opened the show with an energetic southern charm. Although she maintained a comic presence, she was able to adjust her energy to suit the more serious moments. Taica's partner in crime, Brian Bennett as Steve Hubbell, had a consistent stage presence and complimented Taica's energy as her husband during shouting matches.

The colorful 50's era costumes encapsulated the essence of each characters' demeanor and social status. Blanche was a whirl of blue floral dresses, purple suits, and pink blouses; her juvenility was reflected in a pink satin gown with a feather boa and tiara. Conversely, Stanley and Stella's simplicity was conveyed through white tank-tops and plain frocks. The social differences between the Kowalski's and Blanche was effectively illustrated through the contrast in their costumes.

A Streetcar Named Desire proved itself to be an undeniable hit. Although the show was first performed 50 years ago, Woodbridge demonstrated that it has still has the power to transcend time and cause the audience to reflect upon society today.

Grace Owusu Gyamfi
Potomac Senior High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com - PWC/FQ

If you are looking for a classic drama look no further. What's better than a family that sticks with you through thick and thin? Well a drama that shows how a family can cause your undoing. Late on Friday night I was taken away to the world of the Kowalski apartment that Woodbridge Senior High School had portrayed.

A reenactment of the play, A Streetcar Named Desire, by Tennessee Williams written in 1947, this story takes place in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. The play debuted on Broadway in 1947, then moved to the big screen in 1951. As the story unfolds we see the lives of husband and wife Stella and Stanley Kowalski change as Stella's sister Blanche DuBois arrives to stay with them during the summer, until her heartbreaking leave at the end of the performance.

In this interpretation, Woodbridge Senior High School's cast never failed once at depicting the dramatic tension that took place in the play. The accents never faltered, and the dedication towards the roles were always undying. The lead cast of play always had incredible chemistry making the production all the more interesting to watch. Even with a considerably gloomy setting, the play illuminated a somewhat vibrant atmosphere.

This play was spectacularly carried by the Danny Waldman, who played Stanley Kowalski and by Victoria Nolan who played Blanche DuBois. Danny Waldman had immense intensity when portraying the role of Stanley. In a play with extreme emotional moments, Waldman always maintained a solid and unforgettable role. Victoria Nolan's acting in this play carried an energetic feel, her devotion towards the role made her a quintessential part of the performance.

Fatima Dyfan, who played Stanley's wife, Stella Kowalski had an admirable devotion towards her role. Playing an important female lead she never failed to present her character to her fullest ability. Usman Ishaq, who played Harold Mitchell gave a remarkable performance that never lacked any dedication towards his role. His accent fit the setting of the play perfectly as well as his acting.

The lights, sound, costumes, and use of the props and set were all taken at full advantage in this play. They gave more to the play than what was already being given. The costumes depicted the era of the scenes very well, and the use of props added to the wondrous acting of the characters. Even though there was a strange buzzing right before the sound came through, it never truly took away, but only added to what was happening in the performance.

With only strong points throughout the play, A Streetcar Named Desire put fourth so much effort. A play that drew from the deepest depths of dramatic acting, Woodbridge Senior High School did a marvelous job and triumphed through the night.

Carly Shaffer
Herndon High School
Submitted for publication to Lorton Valley Star

A Streetcar Named Desire is a challenging production for a high school to take on, but Woodbridge Senior High School brought the classic play to life in an admirable performance. Written in 1947 by Tennessee Williams, the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama tells the story of Blanche DuBois, an anxious Mississippi girl who moves to New Orleans to live with her sister, Stella, and her husband, Stanley. Blanche's flirtatious attitude soon causes trouble with Stella and Stanley's already strained marriage.

The action took place in a two-room apartment, decorated with vintage furniture and props. These charming touches gave the set a distinctly 1940s feel.

Victoria Nolan played leading lady Blanche DuBois with the allure of a true Southern belle. Her attention to the character's emotional nature was one of the best parts of her performance. Her mannerisms, including wringing her hands anxiously and posing for dramatic effect, were excellent choices. Blanche is sensitive, superficial, and materially focused, and Nolan plays these qualities well.

Danny Waldman delivered an outstanding performance in the role of Stanley Kowalski. Waldman was always in character. Even when not speaking, his bold, masculine physicality contributed greatly to the scene. His walk, sitting stance, bottle opening, and cigarette smoking were particularly noteworthy. Furthermore, Waldman transitioned from angry, explosive scenes to raw, emotional ones with seamless ease. His vigorous energy was kept up throughout the performance.

Fatima Dyfan impressed in the role of Stella Kowalksi. Dyfan's Southern accent was remarkably accurate. Her lines were clear and articulated, making her easy to understand throughout the show. Her relationships with other characters, especially her sister (Nolan) and husband (Waldman) were heartfelt and sincere. Her actions, such as clearing the table, pouring drinks, and preparing food, were well executed. They contributed to the authenticity of her role.

Usman Ishaq showed a great portrayal of the role of Harold Mitchell. Ishaq's keen facial expressions and careful movement allowed him to stay in character during breaks in dialogue. He had a strong sense of his character's purpose, and he reacted to others with visible emotion. He connected to other characters, especially the "Poker Guys": Stanley (Waldman), Steve Hubbell (Brian Bennett), and Pablo Gonzales (Ivan Quiroga).

Celeste Taica was terrific in the role of Eunice Hubbell. Though she did not have much stage time, Taica brought lively energy to each of her scenes. Eunice's haughty, darkly humorous personality was brought to life with clever eyebrow raises, pouting, and a couple of spirited temper tantrums. Taica's portrayal of her fiery character was one of the highlights of the show.


Bigger-than-life characters and a well played, heart-wrenching story made Woodbridge Senior High School's A Streetcar Named Desire one to remember.

Sally Deen
Potomac Senior High School
Submitted for publication to Prince William Times

"I don't want realism. I want magic!" so said Tennessee Williams, which is exactly what you'll get while watching Woodbridge Senior High School's production of A Streetcar Named Desire. They did a fantastic job of bringing us into the mid 50s. Their addition of live music was genius. The cast were able to embody their characters, and all actors were able to maintain there accents, which sounded authentic. Their interaction with their set and props felt very natural. The story of Blanche and her increasing insanity was an interesting one to watch.

Blanche, played by Victoria Nolan, is a southern belle who goes to visit her sister. While there, Blanche struggles to hide her past. Nolan did a magnificent job of portraying a flamboyant, fabulous, yet mentally unstable woman. Nolan is great at being dramatic, which is just what the character calls for. She took us through the stages of Blanche's mental state.

Stella, portrayed by Fatima Dyfan, is Blanche's timid and caring sister. Stella finds herself in an abusive relationship, which she stays in. Stella and Stanley's connection as a couple was incredibly believable. Fatima achieved portraying a shy girl, without shying away from the audience. Fatima appeared to be a concerned sister and a loving wife. Her performance of this character was stunning.

Danny Waldman played Stanley, Stella's abusive husband. From the moment his character walks on stage you hate him, which is wonderful because he is an anger inducing character. Danny did an outstanding job at depicting an angry, hostile, and aggressive character. Danny's display of aggression was captivating. He had the audience both excited and frightened.

Mitchell, who is played by Usman Ishaq is Stanley's friend. Mitchell, much unlike Stanley, is very likable. Blanche and Mitchell were a convincing couple. You could see the admiration and awe Mitchell had for Blanche. Usman showed us every emotion of his character. He gave an outstanding performance.

A Streetcar Named Desire is a tale of lies, love, heartbreak, abuse, and insanity. A concept that continuously appears is fantasy versus realism. With Stanley's bluntness and Blanche's fibs this element was well represented. Every factor in the play is exquisitely displayed in this production. Their performance was intense and intriguing. Woodbridge Senior High did wonderfully with this play.