Victorian Players to offer ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Victorian Players will present the Tennessee Williams classic drama “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” The play opens Friday and will run for six performances over two consecutive weekends.

“Cat,” considered to be Williams’ finest work, won the 1955 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and is regularly listed among the top American dramatic scripts.

It is rarely performed in the area and is a bit of a departure for the Victorian Players, as the show was neither written in, nor takes place during, the Victorian Era, and explores issues such as greed, lust, death, tolerance and homosexuality – issues not typically portrayed on the stage of the Vic.

The production is directed by Sam Luptak Jr., who noted that although the show is outside of the Vic’s typical productions, it still fits its purpose, which is to produce plays that promote or challenge Victorian values.

“Cat” challenges Victorian values while still promoting values such as honesty, tolerance and love.

The play takes place in the Mississippi Delta valley on the huge cotton plantation of Big Daddy Pollit (played by Eric Kibler). It explores the relationships between Big Daddy’s youngest son, Brick (Chuck Kettering), and his wife, Maggie “the Cat” (Laura Phillips), as well as the rest of the family, on the occasion of Big Daddy’s 65th birthday and the receiving of some tragic news.

The veteran cast also includes Terri Wilkes, Heleena Huncik, Nick Mulichak, David English, Robert Ellsway, Lindie Scwarten and Victoria and Karina Mulichak. Elizabeth Daley is the stage manager.

Tickets are $12 ($9 for seniors and students; group rates available), and reservations are recommended; call 330-746-5455. The theater is located at 702 Mahoning Ave.

Curtain times are 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays.