Season 6 at the Filigree Theatre opened with the powerful Tennessee Williams play Suddenly Last Summer. Perhaps it cannot be helped that with such a brilliant script as only the inimitable Williams has written, there could be no possible way to ruin a performance. That theory proved somewhat false. Accolades belong to the Director, Elizabeth V. Newman, whose masterful direction nurtured the actors, allowing them to evolve and flourish in their roles. Their individual and collective interpretation glued me to my seat throughout the performance. Coupled with Newman’s laser-focused direction, this season’s cast brought an evolutionary performance to their roles, jumping by leaps and bounds from the opening scene to the end.
In Season 5’s showing of Above the Fold, the timeframe of the play was in the 1930s, as was Suddenly Last Summer, in fact to the exact year: 1935. Imagine the public’s outrage at seeing this play performed in the 1950s. Suddenly, Last Summer was controversial due to its dark and taboo themes, including mental illness, cannibalism, and the exploration of repressed sexuality. The play faced censorship and provoked outrage from more conservative audiences. When adapted into a film in 1959, the Catholic Church’s Legion of Decency condemned the movie due to its disturbing subject matter.While not universally reviled, Suddenly, Last Summer was a shocking play that challenged the moral norms of the 1950s. Williams was to playwriting what Lenny Bruce was to comedy.
The central theme of Suddenly Last Summer centers around the destructive nature of repressed trauma and the complexity of human relationships. It explores how people cope with unbearable memories and the impact of truth when it confronts social expectations and personal denial. Woven are themes of isolation, the search for identity, and the clash between appearance and reality, showcasing Williams’ focus on psychological depth and emotional turmoil. The story ultimately delves into how individuals and families navigate personal suffering and uncomfortable truths.
Not to give any spoiler alerts, suffice it to say this bombshell of a story, a cynical look at society’s elite and their repressive attitudes towards sexuality, familial relations, in particular mothers and sons, and money, made one’s head spin, even today. Newman seemed to have her finger on the social zeitgeist, and in the case of a few critics, myself included, our mouths were agape and how some things haven’t changed, especially in the southern states!
The set was magnificent, from the authentic look and feel of a New Orleans carriage house with flowers in the garden to the period costumes and props. The wheelchair, a relic from at least fifty years ago, was perfect for the main character, Mrs. Vi. Using the word ‘sister’ to indicate Southern slang initially threw me for a loop. It is not a literal translation as in sibling, I learned before the show’s end.
Applause to the Cast
Linda Nenno, who played Mrs. Venable (Mrs. Vi), had a Broadway career under her belt before teaching acting and voice at Texas State University. Her thrilling performance and excellent accent made for a wicked character. Maddie Scanlan, who played Catherine Holly, performed as Dorothy in last season’s Above the Fold and outdid herself in this performance. She embodied the role with aplomb and modesty. Laura Ray played Sister Felicity and has performed in many theaters around town. Shannon Grounds, who played Mrs. Holly, made her Filigree debut in this play and is the Producing Artistic Director of Shrewd Prodctions. Chirar McCarty, as Miss Foxhill, is an actor and aspiring director originally from Italy. As Doctor Cukrowicz, Bryan Headrick had the best facial expressions throughout his performance, so we could read his thoughts before the words left his mouth. Max played George, a recent graduate of Texas State’s BFA acting program, and is an actor, singer, and VO artist.
A theme marks each season of the Filigree. This year’s theme is Masks and Mirrors.
The show runs until October 20th at The Factory on 5th, 3409 East 5th Street, Austin, 78702. Ticket prices run from $25.00 – $40.00 (not including fees)
For more information and to purchase tickets to future shows, please visit: https://www.filigreetheatre.com/