The Manipulative Violence of Tennessee Williams

Tennessee Williams’ Suddenly Last Summer is a cleverly crafted piece that presents tremendous challenges for any production. UPROOTED theatre dances with these challenges as it closes its final season with a tacitly vivid rendering of Williams’ drama. UPROOTED co-founder Marti Gobel plays a cool and brutally civilized New Orleans matriarch named Violet. Gobel’s sinewy poise onstage lends a level of manipulative menace to her cane and wheelchair. As present in Gobel, Violet doesn’t need these things physically, but needs them on a deep, emotional level. Gobel regally supports herself as Violet with physical manifestations of insecurity at the heart of her character. It’s an interesting, profoundly subtle tango Gobel performs with her props in this production. Marques Causey brings a fragile heroism to the role of the doctor Violet has brought to her home to confront Catharine, a relation who was there at the time of her son’s ghastly murder overseas.

Sola Thompson courts dynamic energy in the role of Catharine. She’s a shambled victim of authority. Chance has placed her in an unenviable position, having seen someone she loves torn apart. Occasionally she challenges the authority that towers over her. Occasionally she submits to it. Thompson brings a restless character to peace onstage with dignity, compassion and understanding that echo similarly impressive performances by Mara McGhee and Derrion Brown elsewhere in the ensemble.

There’s a rugged poeticism to Suddenly Last Summer that rests quite well in this production. Director Dennis F. Johnson has fostered a nice modulation of dramatic intensity without exaggeration that sharply delivers the thematic complexity of this deep drama.

Through May 24 at the Next Act Theatre, 255 S. Water St. For tickets, call 414-278-0765 or visit uprootedmke.com.