Character Descriptions | Villagers Streetcar

STANLEY KOWALSKI

BLANCHE DuBOIS

Blanche Dubois: (f 30-35) Slender, dark, and with features and a demeanor that connote an emotionally fragile person. NOT looking for an imitation of Vivien Leigh. Raised with money but now destitute, her grip on reality is far too loose, carries eternal guilt, has a way with words and possesses an alarming internal dialogue. She is a complex and contradictory character, an alcoholic, whose helplessness, fragility and vulnerabilities foreshadow her tragic end. When Blanche arrives at the Kowalskis she’s tired but she hasn’t given up, not just yet, but you can “smell the desperation.” Her beauty from times past has to shine through in the beginning and slowly, as the play progresses, we see the “light of life” fade. MUST MEMORIZE THE 2 MONOLOGUES PROVIDED FOR THE AUDITION and may be asked to read from the script. Those auditioning for Blanche should also be prepared to sing at least one verse of the 1930's/40's classic "It's Only A Paper Moon." It is to be sung a cappella.

Stanley Kowalski: (m 25-35) Must be muscular, well-built, and around 6ft tall. NOT looking for an imitation Marlon Brando. Stanley is shrewd and manipulative, always “working an angle.” He isn’t as “sure” of himself as he projects. Blanche represents a “reminder” of what Stella gave up to be with him, and thus a threat to his life as he knows it. He is lean, vibrant, radiates energy; has dirt under his nails. Unshakeable world view and sees his commonness as above Blanche's pretensions. He hits his wife, rapes her sister, and shows no remorse. MUST MEMORIZE THE 2 MONOLOGUES PROVIDED FOR THE AUDITION and may be asked to read from the script.

Harold "Mitch" Mitchell: (m 30-35) Tall, solidly built, shy, clumsy, but gentle and kind; devoted to his ailing mother; Stanley’s buddy from the war, work and poker; finds himself drawn towards Blanche. Frustrated at still being single, Mitch wants someone who’s “genteel and a lady,” so he can “marry up.” He thinks he’s found that in Blanche. He sweats through his awkwardness, but is sensitive and a gentleman - until he learns the truth about Blanche's sordid past. Yet, at the end, he and Stella are the only ones who lament Blanche's fate. MUST MEMORIZE THE MONOLOGUE PROVIDED FOR THE AUDITION and may be asked to read from the script.

Stella Kowalski: (f 25-30) Fair, vivacious, sensual. Stella fell for Stanley because she liked the “passion” in their relationship – it made her feel “alive.” That’s actually something she and Blanche have in common when it comes to men, but it’s not something they’d ever admit to each other. Stella is happy to see Blanche but also views her visit as an invasion. Blanche represents “the past” from which Stella has moved on and to which she has no interest in returning. Married to Stanley, Stella has discovered an overpowering physical passion which Blanche cannot understand. Stella surrenders totally to Stanley, accepting his world and its value; torn between Blanche and Stanley, she ultimately sides with her husband. MUST MEMORIZE THE MONOLOGUE PROVIDED FOR THE AUDITION and may be asked to read from the script.

Character Descriptions:

Character Breakdown (All roles are open) Ages represent the age of the characters. The age and physical attributes listed for each character are a guide and are not necessarily final casting requirements. All those cast must be at least 18.

STELLA KOWALSKI

HAROLD "MITCH" MITCHELL

EUNICE HUBBELL

Eunice Hubbell: (f 25-35) A bit crass and rough around the edges. She’s a good friend to Stella and finds Blanche’s “I’m better than you” airs annoying and insulting. She is Stella’s friend, upstairs neighbor, and landlady. We see the low-class life of the French Quarter through her and her husband, Steve. MUST MEMORIZE THE MONOLOGUE PROVIDED FOR THE AUDITION and may be asked to read from the script.

Steve Hubbell: (m 25-40) Same demeanor as his wife – on the crass side and very earthy. Loves his wife in a possessive, grabby kind of way but is still fascinated by the “lady” who comes into their midst. Given the opportunity, he’d grab Blanche in an instant for a little “footsy.” As one of the poker players, Steve has the final line of the play. It comes as Blanche is carted off to the asylum and Steve coldly deals another hand. MUST MEMORIZE THE MONOLOGUE PROVIDED FOR THE AUDITION and may be asked to read from the script.

STEVE HUBBELL

PABLO GONZALES

Pablo Gonzales: (m 25-40) Pablo Gonzales is one of the poker players, who punctuates games with Spanish phrases. MUST MEMORIZE THE MONOLOGUE PROVIDED FOR THE AUDITION and may be asked to read from the script. A Spanish accent should be attempted.

YOUNG COLLECTOR

A Young Collector: ("looks" 15-17, but will cast someone who is at least 18 years old, because of the interaction w/Blanche). A teenager who comes to the Kowalskis’ door to collect for the newspaper when Blanche is home alone. The boy leaves bewildered after Blanche hits on him and gives him a passionate farewell kiss. MUST MEMORIZE THE MONOLOGUE PROVIDED FOR THE AUDITION and may be asked to read from the script.

Negro Woman: (f 30-50) Has a “seen it all” air and look about her. MUST MEMORIZE THE MONOLOGUE PROVIDED FOR THE AUDITION and may be asked to read from the script.

NEGRO WOMAN

MEXICAN WOMAN

A Mexican Woman: (f 40-65) The Mexican Woman sells flowers for the dead during the powerful scene when Blanche recounts her fall from grace. MUST MEMORIZE THE MONOLOGUE PROVIDED FOR THE AUDITION and may be asked to read from the script. A Spanish accent should be attempted.

DOCTOR

The Doctor: (m 40-60) Arrives at the end to bring Blanche on her "vacation." After the Nurse has pinned her, the Doctor succeeds in calming Blanche. She latches onto him, depending, now and always, "on the kindness of strangers." MUST MEMORIZE THE MONOLOGUE PROVIDED FOR THE AUDITION and may be asked to read from the script.

The Nurse: (m/f 30-45) A brutal and impersonal character; quite severe, when no straight jacket is available, she is. Could be played by either a man or a woman and be able to wrestle Blanche to the ground. MUST MEMORIZE THE MONOLOGUE PROVIDED FOR THE AUDITION and may be asked to read from the script.

NURSE

NON-SPEAKING ROLES

Non-speaking roles: prostitute; sailors, passersby will be played by those playing minor roles (Doctor, nurse, young collector, Mexican woman, etc.)

The ethnicity of some of the characters may be adapted to the pool of actors/actresses that audition for the show. In some instances, some actors/actresses may play more than one character.