Players’ ‘cat on a hot tin roof’ sizzles with passion

By MARILYN JOZWIK

Published Oct. 9, 2018

For community theater groups, “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” the West Allis Players’ latest offering, can be a challenge. 

The Tennessee Williams play, set on the huge plantation of a dysfunctional, wealthy southern family in 1955, contains several intense characters with tons of dialogue and fiery exchanges.

The West Allis Players have filled these roles with more than capable performers. Katherine Beeson does double duty here as director, as well as Big Mama, and presents a faithful, worthwhile version of the classic play.

We first see the talents of Avidalis Hurst, playing Maggie Pollitt. She and husband Brick (Nicholas Callan Haubner) are staying at the estate of Brick’s family to celebrate Brick’s dad’s birthday. Known as Big Daddy, Brick’s dad (Gene Schuldt) is returning from a famous clinic for the party.  Big Daddy and his wife Big Mama (Beeson) have been told that his ailment is not cancer, but merely a “spastic colon,” so as not to spoil the celebration. The rest of the family knows the truth: Big Daddy has terminal cancer.

But the cancer is not Big Daddy’s only ailment: it seems to have spread throughout the Pollitt family as deep rifts exist in marriages, between siblings, between parents and children. There is jealousy, greed, deceit—a whole host of human weaknesses on display.

Through just one evening in the life of the Pollitt family, we learn their life stories and the core of their values – or lack thereof -- through Williams’ expository expertise. In Act 1, Maggie tells her story in her bedroom while changing dresses for the party. Husband Brick, a star high school athlete in his day, has holed up after sustaining a leg injury when he went out in the middle of the night to jump a school’s hurdles. Brick’s brother (The Skrauss), wife (Joanna Langworthy) and four girls (Gretchen Weber, Shea Elizabeth Welch, Julieta Grasga and Mary Schram) – dismissed by the childless Maggie as “no-neck monsters” – as well as Big Mama (Beeson) and the family clergyman (Art Carter) and doctor (Bob Schram), are enjoying the outdoors. We can hear them occasionally talking and playing croquet on the lawn outside the bedroom.

In Maggie’s non-stop ramblings we learn about the family and see Brick’s disgust for Maggie, whose proximity he can barely tolerate. We learn about Maggie’s upbringing in poverty and longing to be financially cared for as she says, “To be old and without money is just too awful.” We see that Brick is an alcoholic, drinking until he feels the “click in my head I get when I’m peaceful.”

It is a family in deep distress. The metaphor of “a cat on a hot tin roof” comes up several times, mostly referring to the fidgety Maggie, who finds herself torn between staying in a loveless marriage and a hateful family, and financial insecurity.

As Maggie, Hurst carries a heavy load of dialog, which is filled with so many emotions – anger, envy, confusion. She is strong and willful, traits which Hurst captures so well. It is a marvelous performance.

In Act 2, more of the family dynamics, mostly through a discussion between father and son, are revealed. When Big Daddy asks Brick, “Why do you drink, son?” Brick spits out, “Disgust.” It is apparent his disgust is for himself and his family. His disgust is also for the lies and hypocrisy, traits that are imbedded in his own family.

As Brick, Haubner hobbles around on his crutch, looking cool and detached not only during Maggie’s rants, but during his father’s as well. He tells his father, “Communication is bad between people, and between you and me it’s nothing.”

We soon learn that Brick is just as broken as his leg, for his father brings up Brick’s relationship with his close – some think too close -- college buddy, Skipper, who killed himself. That event started Brick on his destructive path.

Father and son talk of “mendacity” – being untruthful – as if the fancy word makes the lies and hypocrisy more tolerable. And Brick talks of his unbearable situation, telling Big Daddy, “Liquor is one way out and death is another.”

Big Daddy is center stage for his family, and Schuldt carries that role to perfection, bulldozing over everyone including his wife (played wonderfully by Beeson, who stepped into the role after the original cast member suffered a fall). Schuldt is bombastic and quick-tempered as the crude, wealthy plantation owner, giving weight to such Williams lines as “There’s a powerful odor of mendacity in this room” and emotional moments.

Big Mama is perhaps the most sympathetic character, fussing over Big Daddy and Brick, wringing so much emotion out of the terrible situation she finds herself in. Her son is an alcoholic and, when he gets yet another drink, her anguish is palpable as she cries, “You’re just breakin’ my heart, breakin’ my heart.” Ditto in Act 2, when she tells hard-hearted Big Daddy, “I even loved your hate and your hardness.”

At the receiving and giving ends of the hate and jealousy is Brick’s brother, Gooper (nicely rendered by Skrauss), who is tired of playing second fiddle to the irresponsible Brick. Skrauss does well with the dramatic moments in Act 3, when the family gathers to discuss Big Daddy’s illness. As his wife Mae, Joanna Langworthy conveys her character’s bitterness and contempt for Brick and Maggie.

While comedies, mysteries and musicals have dominated community theater stages, it is refreshing to see the West Allis Players taking on this classic dramatic piece with its enduring messages, and doing a fine job with it.

If you go

Who: West Allis Players

What: “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”

When: Through Oct. 14

Where: West Allis Central High School Auditorium, 8516 W. Lincoln Ave., West Allis

Tickets/Info: westallisplayers.org

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