Play characterizes various
hardships, dramas of life
By Ayall Sagi
Staff Writer
Players on a beautiful set in an uncomfortable
theater located somewhere beneath the Stewart Center, put on a commendable
performance of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof."
Dale Miller directed the famous Tennessee Williams
play and deserves much credit for producing an excellent play with well-performed
characters.
The story is set in the bedroom of a Mississippi
mansion, where a simple family birthday party for Big Daddy (Richard
Sullivan Lee) turns dramatic.
Brick (Aaron Ousley) and Gooper (Zachary Coles)
are the only heirs of Big Daddy's enormous estate, and Gooper knows
Brick is the favorite son. In an effort to win Big Daddy over, Gooper
and his wife, Mae (Katie Bartholomew), make a display of themselves
and their children, while trying to discredit Brick and his wife, Maggie
(Erica Peregrine), who don't have any children.
Brick is on crutches the entire play and confined
to his bedroom due to a broken leg he suffered the night before in a
drunken attempt to relive his youth.
Brick has a drinking problem and as the play progresses,
so does Brick's drunkenness.
Ousley beautifully portrays the different emotional
levels of drinking. During one scene in the play, he was so drunk and
upset, he tried to hit his wife Maggie with his crutches.
During other scenes, he is either throwing glassware
at people or in an incredibly relaxed mood.
Brick's character is played similarly to that of
his father, Big Daddy. Big Daddy is a large, loud man, and Sullivan
Lee does an excellent job of presenting this character.
In a discussion with Brick, Big Daddy makes a comment
about how Brick and Gooper, being so different, married women so alike.
Mae and Maggie have the same intentions through
the play — to get Big Daddy's money into the hands of their husbands.
Other notable performances go to Big Momma (Kristine
Holtvedt), who always tries to be at Big Daddy's side. She is annoying,
talks too much, won't leave people alone and nobody really likes her.
Holtvedt perfected this character.
"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" runs through Sunday.
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