After a delicious lunch/early dinner at Carmine’s (mmm, sangria), we hailed a cab to Brooklyn (my first experience in a NYC cab, how exciting) and wandered around the waterfront until St. Ann’s Warehouse opened. I wish we’d had more time to explore DUMBO and meet people while we were there!
Gillian’s entrance was both familiar and not; suddenly there was this face I’d known since my childhood standing not ten feet away from me, but it wasn’t Scully. It was Blanche DuBois in the flesh, and the energy she brought to the room was palpable. I’d seen her character in pictures, but she looks stronger there, whereas on stage, there’s a frailty to her character. Seeing her tiny frame tottering around the stage in huge heels only magnifies the effect.
I loved that the minimalist set gave the impression that the play could have taken place at any time. Blanche’s descent into madness felt real; her desperation grew with every glass of booze poured down her throat. The music that plays in her head as she thinks of her late husband was haunting, and the transitions between scenes were as violent and unpredictable as her moods.
I worried the length of the play would be uncomfortable with only a short intermission (I’ve had a cough for the last week), but I was riveted for the entire thing. I spent most of the time focused on Gillian, but the other roles were just as well performed. I wish I could see it again, to catch the nuances I missed. I’ll have to find a recording and re-watch it.
After the show, a bunch of us lined up to meet Gillian and get an autograph. Most of the folks around me were talking about the fandom, X-Files, meeting the actors at cons, etc.; these were my people! But I was tired and too shy to introduce myself or talk at length. I wasn’t exactly nervous; excited, sure, but I kept my cool.
Gillian is breathtaking in person, but Streetcar showed me what depth she has as an actress. I hate to say it, but the latest season of The X-Files doesn’t deserve her. If they do agree to a season 11, I hope the writers get their shit together and give her more to work with than “alien DNA, alien DNA, alien DNA”.
I am so glad I had the chance to see the play and meet Gillian in person; truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and a big item crossed off my bucket list.
I’m very happy you got to see her perform. New York City is too far away right now for me. We attended a showing of the video they filmed back in 2015. It was truly memorable. She is a wonderful actor and you are right, season ten of The X-Files was a waste of her talent.
How cool that you got to meet her!
I had a long moment after the play where I was so sad for TXF. Like…ugh. It will never be as good as it was in the earlier seasons at this rate. That won’t stop me from hoping, but damn, GA can act. Give her all the awards.
Right?!? She doesn’t sign after every play so I was lucky. So cool. 🙂