Old play given new life

Tennessee Williams’ play “Suddenly Last Summer” delves into a corrupt world of money and power.

In the play, Mrs. Violet Venable, a wealthy New Orleans matron, pays off a doctor to perform a lobotomy on her niece, Catherine Holly. Venable suggests her niece has gone mad. She sees the procedure as the only means to stop Catherine from spreading stories about the death of her son, Sebastian Venable.

“Suddenly Last Summer” is a far cry from Williams’ more famous plays such as “A Streetcar Named Desire” and “The Glass Menagerie.” The play was less captivating and more of a disappointment than Williams’ other classics.

The plot develops slowly, leaving the audience bored and tired. In a play that could otherwise be thought provoking, the slow pace and lack of physical action detracted from its impact.

But the acting was worthwhile. Sarah Kiefer, who portrayed Catherine Holly, delivered a dramatic final monologue that earned her the respect of the audience. Her performance was both skillful and passionate.

Tina Brock bravely tackled the difficulties of depicting an older woman on stage. Her characterization included unsteady walking, shaky gesticulations and a twitching left eye.

The show, directed by Aileen McColluch, is performed by The Vagabond Acting Troupe. The cast includes Keifer, Brock, Christian Lisak, April Feld, Doug Greene, Jackie Kay Knox and Misa Loren Clifford.

The Arden Theater, located at 2030 Samson St., is an intimate theater perfect for this performance. For more information and ticket reservations, contact The Vagabond Acting Troupe at (215) 563-4330.