06-11-CKS-Kowalsky

Doesn't the title name Kowalski bring to mind one of America's major 20th-century playwrights? Of course I am speaking of Tennessee Williams who gave us such wonderful plays as The Night of the Iguana, The Glass Menagerie, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, and of course A Streetcar Named Desire where we meet Stanley Kowalski, performed on stage and in the movie by the inimitable Marlon Brando.

In this world premiere play, written by Gregg Ostrin and directed by Rick Shaw, we are privy to just how Brando, a veritable unknown, achieved this prize part to become the famous actor that he became.


Ignacio Serricchio - Curt Bonnem


I am not so certain that the play presents a true picture, or that everything about the dialogue is really what occurred, but it is based on many facts of how Marlon Brando spent a night of destiny. Happenstance has it, on an evening when Williams, played by Curt Bonnem, is away, a young man comes to see him. Not finding anyone home and the door open, he enters the house and rather makes himself at home. When Williams returns, he is appalled at the entry. But at first, because of the man's good looks and great body, he shows a great deal of interest in him. When he finds out that he is Marlon Brando (Ignacio Serricchio), the man he was expecting to come to audition for him three days ago, Williams is no longer interested in giving him the opportunity to read for him.

In the first place, he is leaning towards giving the part for his next play to John Garfield, and only at the insistence of his friend Elia Kazan, did he offer to audition Brando. Obviously, the two do not hit it off, and throughout the play, the two battle back and forth, until in the final skirmish, Williams decides to give Brando the opportunity to read for him. And this is how a new star was born on Dec. 3, 1947.

In the play, many of William's troubles are revealed. The loss of his close sister Rose, who was institutionalized for most of her life, left him depressed. He was gay and put up with his rather crude partner, Pancho Rodriquez (Les Brandt). Bonnem, with a bit of make-up has a rather close resemblance to Tennessee Williams. He and Serricchio go at it intensely and give great performances.

There are two talented women in the production, Margo Jones (Alexa Hamilton) a close friend of Williams who had hoped to be given the job of directing A Streetcar Named Desire, but accepts his reason for denying her the position. The other is Jo (Shasha Higgins), Brando's traveling partner and "maybe" girlfriend. The entire cast proves to make this production one to enjoy. Kowalski is playing at the Two Roads Theatre, 4348 Tujunga Blvd., in Studio City. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 7:30 PM, through August 7. Tickets are available by calling (828) 762-2282, or online at www.tworoadstheater.com.