Streetcar Named Desire parks itself in Karachi

Tennessee Williams’ co-director play talks about her experience of putting together the classic for Pakistani...

KARACHI:

While eavesdropping on her parents’ conversation, Kanzul Fatima Arif heard about Tennessee Williams’ play A Streetcar Named Desire for the first time. “I was 13 and I overheard my parent’s talking about this play in a very hush hush manner, which got me all inquisitive about it,” Kanzul tells The Express Tribune.

Fast-forward to the present, the freshly-graduate from the National College of Arts (NCA), is now co-directing the same play along with her friend Sarah Saifi.



Tackling a play as complex as the Tennessee Williams masterpiece on her debut was no less than a daunting task for Kanzul. “For me, it was very difficult as not only did we have a young cast but also because there are some themes and elements in the play that are very sensitive, such as that of dependence on men and death”.

When asked if there had been any reservation in deciding to perform the play for Pakistani audiences, Kunzul replied that all of their doubts had been quashed after they saw the overwhelming response to their open call for auditions.“So many people turned up for auditions and it sort of felt like a confidence booster for us heading into the play.”

She added that although their adaptation of the play remains true to the original, they have made a few minor adjustments to make it more relatable for local audiences. “Some of the lines and dialogues have been reworked and rewritten so that when people come to watch the play, they can at least relate to it on some level.”

A Streetcar Named Desire is one of the most sought after plays by both actors and directors in the theatre community around the world. This made Kunzul and Sarah’s decision to cast newcomers and actors with little or no background in acting, a very risky move.

Despite this, Kunzul has no regret about her cast; she is impressed by the level of improvement they have shown overtime and how quickly they have adapted to their roles.



The play tells the story of a southern belle, Blanche Dubois, who, after experiencing a series of personal losses, leaves her aristocratic background seeking refuge with her sister and brother-in-law in a dilapidated New Orleans tenement. It has been performed several times on Broadway and was even adapted onto film in 1951 by Elia Kazan, starring Marlon Brando in the lead role of Stanley Kowalski.

The play is scheduled to begin its eight-day long run from August 15 at the Karachi Arts Council.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 14^th,  2015.

Like Life & Style on Facebook, follow @ETLifeandStyle on Twitter for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.