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Books Related to Baby Doll and Other Plays Tennessee Williams - ISBN: 0141185716
The kid's a killer - Rated
One could be forgiven for dismissing this collection of plays as 'typical Williams territory', as he once again conjures up the faded beauty of southern USA in the early part of the last century. To paraphrase John Osborne (Whom I quoted from the review title), Baby Doll's charms are lethal. 'Baby Doll', the first play in the collection, describes the troubled relationship between failing cotton merchant Archie Lee and his teenaged bride, nicknamed 'Baby doll', as though apparently innocent and vulnerable, she proves adept at manipulating her husband, playing him off against his business rival, the smooth sicilian Di Silva. Williams demonstrates a brilliant understanding of human nature and female behaviour, commenting on issues of great sociological relevance. The version in this book is taken from the screenplay, but William's detailed directorial notes are in some ways more descriptive than stage directions. The theme of manipulation is also explored in 'Somethng unspoken'- a short piece of drama that was intended to run with 'suddenly last summer'. In 'Something Unspoken' the action does not move from an aging matriach's parlour, yet depicts the superficial world inhabited by thirties' southern belles, exposing the insecurities and faded hope that lie beneath them. "Suddenly last summer" is, I feel, one of William's best works, recounting how the almost incestuous love a mother has for her son to push her to jealousy and vindication. William's gift lies in creating characters so believable that their most terrible acts can have some kind of reason behind them, and yet I felt a deep sympathy for Catherine, the victim of her aunt's jealousy. Despite the violence that exists within each play, the fading hope leading to absolute despair, the poetry within Williams' language lends his play an indescribable beauty. If you enjoyed this collection of plays, I would recomend 'Cat on a hot tin Roof', 'Camino Real' and 'The milk train doesn't stop here anymore'.
