From left, Ana Rodriguez, Brandon Samples, Debra Allebach, and Michael Gil star in “The Pretty Trap,” one of several short Tennessee Williams plays on stage at the Armour Street Theatre. (Bill Giduz photo)

By CONNIE FISHER

Tennessee Williams, an icon of classic theater, died 30 years ago but his work remains vibrantly alive on Davidson’s Armour Street stage this month. Davidson Community Players reintroduces the master of American theater with four of his one-act plays under the title of “An Evening with Tennessee Williams.”

Davidson Community Players’ Executive Director Matt Merrell has always wanted to incorporate such masterpieces into the company’s diverse seasonal repertoire, though they’re not ofen performed on community theater stages. What a delightful gift for audiences from North Carolina’s Lake Norman area.

Williams is best known for such monumental dramas as “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” “A Streetcar Named Desire,” “The Glass Menagerie,” and “Night of the Iguana.” He also wrote 70 lesser-known one-act plays. Recognizing the improbability of producing one of Williams’ major classics on the small Armour Street stage, Merrell selected instead, four one-act plays that depict the passionate personality of the Tennessee Williams style.

All four are set in the consistent Tennessee Williams mid-20th century south, and evolve over a sequential period of time. Women’s emotions dominate the tales, while their male counterparts play supporting roles. Davidson’s choices of female actors do justice to the playwright’s deeply flawed characters—grim, tragic, sexy, abusive, dreamy, emotionally stunted, and vulnerable. Their performances are superb.

Ironically, one could claim that young Isabella Frommelt is charming as Willie, the seemingly innocent young girl on the railroad tracks who values life by incidents from the movies. But in the first play, “This Property Is Condemned,” she really is artistically delightful and surely is a rising star for Davidson Community Players.

“The Pretty Trap” is a precursor to “The Glass Menagerie” complete with the flirtatious fading belle of a mother played by Debra Allebach, her reticent daughter, Laura, portrayed by Ana Rodriguez and the signature glass unicorn. Both women do justice to their competing, confused, complex characters.

The second act opens with, “27 Wagons Full of Cotton.” Della Knowles gives a riveting performance as the sensual Flora, a confused, not very bright country woman who seeks affection and approval from her devious husband and is seduced by the charm and the horse whip of a handsome superintendent from a rival cotton gin.

Gloria King is a polished actor on any stage. Her reputation is upheld with her portrayal of Cornelia Scott, the lonely Southern spinster in “Something Unspoken,” the fourth and final play. Kelsey Perry balances the story with the innuendo of hidden secrets as Grace Lancaster, the energetic, younger social secretary.

Four accomplished connoisseurs of the dramatic stage were selected to direct each piece. Wrenn Goodrum directs “This Property is Condemned,” Sylvia Burton Schnople “The Pretty Trap,” Jim Esposito, “27 Wagons Full of Cotton;” and Anne Lambert “Something Unspoken.”

They faced the challenge of teaching the actors how to interpret Tennessee Williams’s complex characters, interacting in a manner representative of the unspoken devious, dark culture of Williams’s world at that time. Mission accomplished. Obviously they understand classic theater as their techniques are effective.

Davidson Community Players has other surprises in store. Kudos goes to Clay James for the design of an innovative revolving stage reminiscent of the creative genius often implemented at Yale Repertory Theater. How else could a responsive audience spontaneously applaud a set!

WANT TO GO?

Performances of “An Evening with Tennessee Williams” continue over the next two weekends, Oct. 10 through 20. Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances open at 8pm. Sunday matinees begin at 2pm. For tickets and reservations call the box office at 704-892-7953 or visit www.davidsoncommunityplayers.org ^[1].