Has Blanche DuBois ever been played by a man?
April 5, 2015 4:40 PM Subscribe
My Google-fu is failing me. Does anyone know of a production of A Streetcar Named Desire where the role of Blanche has been played by a male actor?
Split Britches and Bloolips collaborated to transform Streetcar into Belle Reprieve in the 80's. I believe Peggy Shaw of Split Britches played the Stanley role and and drag queen Bette Bourne played Blanche. That's the only male playing Blanche I know of, but I can't help but think there must be others.
posted by Joey Michaels at 7:35 PM on April 5, 2015
posted by Joey Michaels at 7:35 PM on April 5, 2015
Best answer: This is a major digression, but I have a hunch it may be relevant to whatever you're working on. It's not about Streetcar, but it concerns one production where Williams' own feminine aspects are explored and another where a famous Williams character is given a female-to-male recast.
Sometime around 1992 or so I saw a play about Tennessee Williams at the International City Theater in Long Beach, in which Williams was played by a male actor while his "feminine side" was played by a hot, drawling actress in a sweaty little slip. IIRC she was kind of a devil on his shoulder, invisible to the other characters but constantly whispering naughty thoughts in his ear. (Sort of like a Southern belle version of Six from Battlestar Galactica.)
A quick search isn't turning up the title of the play, but this thing exists and perhaps it's relevant to your interests. I don't recall being terribly impressed with the play, FWIW.
Secondly, not so long ago I heard about a version of The Glass Menagerie in which Laura Wingfield was played by a male actor, as a shy, awkward, gay male character. That's as much as I recall, though.
posted by Ursula Hitler at 9:45 PM on April 5, 2015 [2 favorites]
Sometime around 1992 or so I saw a play about Tennessee Williams at the International City Theater in Long Beach, in which Williams was played by a male actor while his "feminine side" was played by a hot, drawling actress in a sweaty little slip. IIRC she was kind of a devil on his shoulder, invisible to the other characters but constantly whispering naughty thoughts in his ear. (Sort of like a Southern belle version of Six from Battlestar Galactica.)
A quick search isn't turning up the title of the play, but this thing exists and perhaps it's relevant to your interests. I don't recall being terribly impressed with the play, FWIW.
Secondly, not so long ago I heard about a version of The Glass Menagerie in which Laura Wingfield was played by a male actor, as a shy, awkward, gay male character. That's as much as I recall, though.
posted by Ursula Hitler at 9:45 PM on April 5, 2015 [2 favorites]
As a follow up to misozaki's answer, here's an English translation of an article about Sasai playing Blanche which references a couple American productions that predated the Japanese one.
posted by bluefly at 5:22 AM on April 6, 2015
posted by bluefly at 5:22 AM on April 6, 2015
It might be worth mentioning that, according to the Simpsons episode "A Streetcar Named Marge," Ned Flanders once played Blanche.
Marge: Hi, Ned. I didn't know you were an actor.
Flanders: Oh, indeedily-doodily. Uh, I've even been in Streetcar once before. I played Blanche DuBois. Mm-hmm. Just part of the fun of going to an all-male school.
posted by ROTFL at 7:01 PM on April 6, 2015
Marge: Hi, Ned. I didn't know you were an actor.
Flanders: Oh, indeedily-doodily. Uh, I've even been in Streetcar once before. I played Blanche DuBois. Mm-hmm. Just part of the fun of going to an all-male school.
posted by ROTFL at 7:01 PM on April 6, 2015
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posted by misozaki at 7:26 PM on April 5, 2015 [1 favorite]