03/06/2023
In this illuminating portrait, Schoenberger (Furious Love), an English professor at William & Mary, explores the cultural significance of Tennessee Williams’s bewitching, doomed Blanche DuBois—a “rich, multifaceted” character in A Streetcar Named Desire who evolved “through the psyches of the many actresses who played her.” Inspired by Williams’s high-strung, mentally ill sister Rose and perhaps his own alter ego, Blanche was born of “the Old South, land of terrors and of dreams,” and was emblematic of both the “exaggerated... femininity of the Southern belle” and the darker legacies it masked. Refined, English-born actor Jessica Tandy highlighted Blanche’s canny, schoolmarmish qualities when she played her in 1947, though she was sometimes outshone by costar Marlon Brando, while mentally fragile Vivien Leigh’s bipolar illness “began to assert itself” as she played the character on the London stage in 1951. Ann-Margret’s 1984 TV Blanche was a self-confident steel magnolia, while Jessica Lange’s 1992 portrayal brought out the character’s tragic, deluded loneliness. Black actor Jemier Jenkins’s 2018 depiction was fueled by a fragile, fighting spirit, and spotlighted “how Blanche helps us ‘unpack’ ” different ideas of feminism: Blanche is “a mess, but she wants better,” Jenkins said. Schoenberger’s detailed account is packed with vibrant cultural specifics and trenchant analysis, and she keeps up a brisk pace that will have readers turning pages. Theater and pop culture fans, take note. (Apr.)
"[Schoenberger] has now written a lean but graceful character study of DuBois, giving Williams’s most indelible but also frequently misunderstood character her due. . . . If you’re unfamiliar with this great American classic, or have perhaps let high-school memories of it lapse, this book is a hell of a gateway drug." — New York Times
"Schoenberger is . . . a gifted writer . . . . Her composition of an obituary for Blanche is priceless." — Air Mail
"A delightfully satisfying roundup for both longtime fans of Streetcar and newcomers." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"A penetrating consideration of Tennessee Williams’s most enduring character. . . . [Schoenberger is] eminently qualified to write this important, must read book. . . . I hope the reader savors this book as much as I did." — BookTrib
"Schoenberger’s detailed account is packed with vibrant cultural specifics and trenchant analysis, and she keeps up a brisk pace that will have readers turning pages. Theater and pop culture fans, take note." — Publishers Weekly
"Moving . . . . [Schoenberger] asks, 'Does Blanche still matter?' Readers of this fine book will answer with a resounding yes." — Booklist
"Nancy Schoenberger assembles quotes, anecdotes, and insights from several decades of performances to create a dazzling Blanche DuBois scrapbook. She provides not just a lively exploration of a character as rich as Hamlet (as more than one person says), but concise portraits of some extraordinary actresses and a social history of changing attitudes about acting, women, class, and race." — Chris Bram, author of Eminent Outlaws and Father of Frankenstein
"Fantastic . . . Tying literary and performance analysis in with Tennessee Williams’s personal life, specifically the guilt he felt over abandoning his sister, Rose, Blanche is a testament to great art that continues to evolve long after its creator has departed." — BuzzFeed News
"Blanche is an engrossing cultural history of a rich and complex character that sheds light on who we are." — Broadway World
“Blanche is a quick, fun and fruitful read that offers a glimpse at the way some very fine actresses go about their work, and allows us to revisit some of the exquisite details of the play." — New York Theater
★ 2023-01-25
Retelling the story of Blanche DuBois through the eyes of those who played her.
In her latest, Schoenberger, author of Dangerous Muse, offers a fresh examination of an iconic literary character: the troubled hero of Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire. Schoenberger views Blanche through the lenses of eight women and their unique perspectives: Williams’ sister, Rose (“the great, enduring love of his life—the person he was most haunted and inspired by”), who likely inspired several characters in his works, including Blanche; and actors who took on the role of Blanche, including Jessica Tandy, Vivien Leigh, Ann-Margret, Jessica Lange, Patricia Clarkson, Cate Blanchett, and Jemier Jenkins. By closely examining what each actor brings to the character, Schoenberger shows us an appealingly diverse array of personas of an unforgettable woman. For instance, Leigh portrays a woman dancing on the verge of madness, while Blanchett sees her as clinging to her sanity. Tandy makes her crafty and clever, and Ann-Margret brings out her sexual prowess. According to Clarkson, “I think of her as part hooker and part schoolteacher—I think they go hand in hand! She’s not this crystal pure person by any stretch of the imagination, so I didn’t play her like a frail moth. Her past becomes her present, and she brings all of that with her to New Orleans.” Jenkins, the most recent to play Blanche, is “one of the few African American actresses to undertake the role, with great success, according to many laudatory reviews.” Throughout the book, the author invites readers to consider Rose and her direct relationship to Blanche. Ultimately, despite these new takes, she remains an enigma. “Not knowing just how we should judge Blanche makes her even more enigmatic—unforgettable,” writes the author. “We are still trying to solve the mystery of Blanche.”
A delightfully satisfying roundup for both longtime fans of Streetcar and newcomers.
In this riveting audiobook, author Nancy Schoenberger explores the character of Tennessee Williams's indelible creation from A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, Blanche DuBois. Elizabeth Wiley delivers fascinating personal interpretations from the many actresses who've played Blanche, from Jessica Tandy, the very first Blanche, to Jemir Jenkins, the first African-American actor to play her. Wiley is terrific as she delivers both the repressive times and expectations for young women in the post-Civil War South and the engrossing backstory of Williams's inspiration for Blanche--his sister Rose, whose life was tragic. Those new to Williams's play will appreciate Wiley's lush voice and ability to disappear into the engrossing narrative. Journal entries, interviews, fact-based suppositions, and Wiley's superb performance help make this an important addition to the Williams canon. S.J.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
In this riveting audiobook, author Nancy Schoenberger explores the character of Tennessee Williams's indelible creation from A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, Blanche DuBois. Elizabeth Wiley delivers fascinating personal interpretations from the many actresses who've played Blanche, from Jessica Tandy, the very first Blanche, to Jemir Jenkins, the first African-American actor to play her. Wiley is terrific as she delivers both the repressive times and expectations for young women in the post-Civil War South and the engrossing backstory of Williams's inspiration for Blanche--his sister Rose, whose life was tragic. Those new to Williams's play will appreciate Wiley's lush voice and ability to disappear into the engrossing narrative. Journal entries, interviews, fact-based suppositions, and Wiley's superb performance help make this an important addition to the Williams canon. S.J.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine