BLANCHE

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.