Tennessee Williams wrote many renowned plays, and his skills as a writer are displayed in “Unsung Songs of a Southern Nightingale.” In addition to providing well written performances, this series of plays provides insight on Tennessee Williams’ increasingly pessimistic attitude towards life.
The first play, “The Case of the Crushed Petunias,” is the most humorous of the four which are performed, but it still gives deep social commentary about breaking free of conventional society. Unfortunately, the male lead in this single scene play was uninspiring. Luckily, the script was good enough to keep the audience interested.
The second play, “Talk to Me Like Rain and Let Me Listen,” displayed a tremendous shift in tone from the first play. Rain could be heard pattering on the roof with the occasional growl of thunder as two lovers reflected on their lives and how they ultimately need each other. The monologue that the female character performs ends up being the most meaningful few minutes of the show. It was somber yet peaceful, and the audience was mesmerized by her delivery.
The third play, “The Pronoun I,” ironically returns to a more playful tone as Queen Elizabeth I faces a public riot and assassins. In this play the acting was decent, but Elizabeth’s royal attire and the mask she wore captivated audiences. The play parallels the idea of casting off social obligations and running away which was explored in the first play.
The final play, “The Chalky White Substance,” darkly portrays an apocalyptic future, giving a dose of reality that lays heavily on the audience. The acting in this feature was good, but the larger character could have been played more effectively.
At the end of each individual play, the audience progressively got more uncomfortable. At times, silence lasted for longer than usual after the lights went off as people were unsure of applause. The plays were all intriguing in their own way, but the heavy impact which the audience felt is what makes them stand out. These play demonstrate how effectively Tennessee Williams could convey his own emotion through plays, and why his works are timeless.