Desire NYC Reviews and Tickets
Member Reviews (15)
See it if you can't get enough of Tennessee Wms, even if this is ersatz TW. Some pieces worked better than others, but the evening was slooow.
Don't see it if you have the option of seeing real TW. He wrote lots of good, interesting plays (these were adapted stories). Acting was overall solid. Read more
See it if You are a fan of Tennessee Williams. If you want to see an outstanding performance of a future star: Liv Rooth.
Don't see it if You like consistency in your theatergoing. Some pieces are excellent; some not so much.
See it if you are Tennessee Williams Fan and enjoy short plays
Don't see it if You do not like Tennessee Williams or are easily offended by subject matter.
See it if Enjoy well-acted short plays - cast is terrific and believable in all roles. You don't need to know T Williams' work to find much to like.
Don't see it if You are precious about "tampering" with an author's work/vision. These are inspired by, not adapted from, short stories.
See it if u are a Tennessee Williams completist (like me) & want to see contemporary writers adapt or riff on TW stories. Yaegel T. Welch is masseur!!
Don't see it if you expect effective drama from six short plays. Production is good, but I ask "Why do it in the first place?" Unnecessary theater.
See it if Tennessee Williams Characters come alive in this short stories adaptation. Beautifully acted & Skillfully directed by Michael Wilson.
Don't see it if Nothing to say
See it if One-acts from great writers; John Guare, Beth Henley, Elizabeth Egloff, etc based on Tennessee Williams short stories.
Don't see it if You aren't familiar with the work of Tennessee Williams.
See it if You love Tennessee Williams
Don't see it if You're easily offended. Surprise: these adaptations include issues of race, sexuality, religion and canibalism (OK, the last IS a surprise).
Critic Reviews (16)
"The playwrights take varied approaches to dramatizing Williams’s stories...Some are more successful than others in giving fleshed-out form to these often minor tales. The larger question is whether second-guessing the writer himself, is a fruitful pastime. Over all, on the evidence of this production, I’d have to say no."
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"While any night of vignettes is inevitably mixed, this program is satisfying in small, intense doses...Michael Wilson directs an appealing, uniformly good ensemble and the movements flow swiftly, offering variety at every turn. Most American playwrights today owe some debt to Williams; it’s a pleasure, even inspiring, to see six give back."
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"Another in a series of theatrical misadventures that makes you question the management of the Tennessee Williams estate. I wouldn’t be complaining about this if any of the experiments were ever any good, but they’re not, and this latest one is particularly annoying, like shaking up a soda can full of tired Tennesseeisms."
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"The evening is uneven — a given with this sort of project. But director Michael Wilson pulls together the various approaches, the cast swiftly switches from role to role, and Williams’ themes and obsessions mostly come through, even when the adapters take liberties with the stories."
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"A new Tennessee Williams tasting menu of one-acts goes down easy. Some specific courses leave something to be desired, but each work brings echoes of Williams’ indelible characters — and reminders of how the playwright could go from poetic to purple like nobody else."
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"Audiences will not want to miss this opportunity to see the work of Williams brilliantly adapted for the stage. The show has extraordinary direction by Michael Wilson. Each and every scene is entrancing...The collection of shorts has just the right variety of themes to keep the audience completely captivated."
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"A must for Williams fans, 'Desire' is filled with so many grace notes and accomplished performances that it should prove satisfying for all. At its best, it's a captivating collaboration across the generations, resulting in new works that are solidly grounded in the lesser-known writings of one of our greatest artists."
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"With these adapted short stories, he has opened an entirely new avenue to explore, and given that Williams published dozens of stories in addition to his plays, there is clearly more to be mined. The performances by a very solid cast, along with excellent scenic and projection desgn and costumes, make 'Desire' an important addition to the list of theater works for Williams aficionados to discover."
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