Paul Mescal Returns To The London Stage In A Streetcar Named Desire
With Gladiator also out this weekend, Paul Mescal seems to be just about everywhere – and no one’s complaining. The limited run of Tennessee Williams’ seminal play A Streetcar Named Desire came to the West End last year, and now the play is coming back for a limited time only.
The Irish heartthrob will be transforming himself into the role of Stanley, perhaps the most iconic character from the play. Stanley was famously played by Marlon Brando during the play’s very first run in 1947, becoming an iconic performance. Brando also reprised the role in the film adaptation several years later. In the play, Stanley is the husband of Stella DuBois, the sister of Blanche DuBois who comes to stay with the couple in New Orleans. Stella has strong passionate feelings for Stanley, despite his controlling and abusive behaviour toward her.
As tensions between the three rise, the play gives a fascinating but in some ways bleak insight into relationships and marriage, and with time has become a window into life in 1940s America. This new version of the play is directed by Rebecca Frecknall, who’s directed several well-known plays in London including the Eddie Redmayne starring Cabaret. Meanwhile, joining Mescal in the cast are Lydia Wilson- who was previously in Frecnkall’s production of the Duchess of Malfi- as Blanche and Anjana Vasan (We Are Lady Parts, Killing Eve) as Stella.
This isn’t Mescal’s first play in the city – he was in a production of The Plough and the Stars). The limited run will be staged at the Noël Coward Theatre from 3rd to 22nd February 2025.
Register and get your tickets here.
