Review of the play A Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Sanaa Lathan as Maggie (c) Nobby Clark

Performing the 1974 version of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams, the story of Brick Pollitt a recently married man who goes back down south to celebrate his father, Big Daddy’s, birthday. This is the first time a Broadway play with an all black cast has transferred to  the West End. That alone makes the play stand out but what makes it truly remarkable is that all the actors in this production of Cat are first class.

Sanaa Lathan practically steals the first half of the show as Maggie, Brick’s wife. Her character is cruel, shameless and yet immensely likeable. However it is Adrian Lester’s portrayal of Brick Pollitt that stands out. He manages to show a man fracturing under the weight of his own disgust with himself. The chemistry with stage legend James Earl Jones, who plays his father, the crude Big Daddy, is a pleasure to watch. Phylicia Rashad, another heavyweight, rounds out the cast nicely as Big Mama. If race has any role to play in this production it is only that it brought such brilliant talents together for the first time.

James Earl Jones (Big Daddy) and Adrian Lester (Brick) (c) Nobby Clark

Cast aside, much of the play remains the same only without references to time, leaving it in a strange limbo where a black Brick can become a sports presenter and a black Big Daddy can oversee a plantation. The set is a large luxury bedroom with bars for walls where people can listen in from the balcony beyond the room. It is a great way to show how the characters police one another and are never alone. The accents remain American if not rigidly southern, and everything happens in real time, with characters talking over one another and the children being heard in the back. The play is almost 3 hours long so two breaks were given: a main intermission and a shorter stretch break of four minutes. The play still managed to maintain momentum despite its length – but only just.

James Earl Jones (Big Daddy) and Phylicia Rashad (Big Mama) (c) Nobby Clark

What was most surprising about this staged version of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is the humour. It is an aspect of the play that does not shine in the watered-down 1958 film adaptation starring Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman. Nor does it come through whilst reading the original play by Tennessee Williams. In this version, the tone manages to stay in a place that captures the absurdity of fever pitch emotions of familial deceit, obsessive love and shame without lessening the emotional impact. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof turns from comedy to tragedy and back with a click. Impressive.

Sanaa Lathan (Maggie) and Adrian Lester (Brick)

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, at the Novello Theatre until Saturday 10 April 2010. Official website

8 Responses to “Review of the play A Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”

• I saw this great play having never seen the casting with Elizabeth Taylor and Paul newman hence I am unable to make any comparisons. However in terms of acting capabilities I have to admit I was initially in awe of the James Earl Jones, Phylicia Rashad, and Sanaa Lathan whom someone mentioned above we just don’t get to see that much of. However after sometime I settled down and began to take in the essence of the story. I think Adrian Lester did a fine job in captivating a has been football jockey who is battling with his demons and guilt, Sanaa was perfectly sassy in her role and James Earl Jones and Phylicia Rashad were both just captivating and awesome. In answer to if Phylicia would have been cast if her sister were not the director, absolutely yes, you must remember Phylicia has done numerous works on Broadway and has won/been nominated for numerous awards so she can definitely hold her own. The British casting were equally suberb and definitely held their own against the American heavyweights. The big deal about it being an all black cast is because it was a big deal, hopefully we will get to see more black leading roles in theatre productions because we all know there are so many fine actors out there who just don’t get a look in, only then will it no longer be a big deal…..

  unique says
  January 6, 2010 at 3:38 pm

• The play was admirably done, Adrian Lester’s subtle and nuanced performance was excellent. His understatement in the first section contrasted superbly with the most memorable part of the play, when he went toe to toe with Big Daddy. It was one of the theatrical highlights of the year seeing two masters of the stage in this stunning 2nd section. James Earl Jones delivered on gravitas and playfulness in equal measure, at times it was easy to forget that he has reached an impressive 78. I found Sanaa Lathan more grating than was necessary in the first section. Although this was part of her remit, she took it a bit far. I had her voice ringing in my ears for much of the interval and at one point just wanted to yell out give it a rest woman! Didn’t think she was the full-on sexy cat required but then I’m not a man and my boyfriend seemed pretty entranced.
  I’m not sure if I was more impressed to be seeing Mrs Huxtable on stage than by the performance Phlycia Rashad gave. Although entertaining, I wonder if she would have been cast if her sister were not the director. Peter de Jersey and Nina Sosanya held their own as Gooper and Mae, doing a fantastic line in grasping desperation.
  All in all the Brits shone out in this American classic showing that we can do it just as well if not better than our American counterparts. I wonder how it would have turned out if they had cast Nina Sosanya instead as Mae instead of going for an American movie star. I suspect she could have turned up the heat far better. But it was an undeniable treat to see James Earl Jones in the flesh. The voice alone was enough to set the hairs on your arms on end.

  Liz says
  December 17, 2009 at 3:54 pm

• Sharon’s comment about Phylicia Rashad is insanely inaccurate. She almost stole the show from the rest of the excellent cast. Her depiction of Big Momma, at once strong and forthright but also ritually humiliated by the harshness of her husband, was superb. I also disagree with the comment that Sanaa lacked charisma as a seductress. Although her initial monologues dragged in pace she really got into her stride and eventually held her own. A great production.

  Shalom x

  Tolita says
  December 15, 2009 at 10:39 pm

• I loved the play and was most impressed by Adrian Lester. He perfectly embodied his character. I have to admit I went to see Cat mostly for Sanaa Lathan as we just don’t get to see her enough on screen. She had her work cut out for her and she did a fine job as catty Maggie but I felt she lacked charisma in the scenes where she is supposed to be seductive. You can’t find fault in James Earl Jones and Phylicia Rashad’s performances. But a special mention has to be given to the supportive cast, namely the actors playing Gooper and Mae! I was surprised by the play I saw, as it differed quite a lot from the play that I knew. It had more layers than I thought.

  We attended the Q&A session after the play, with the producers of the show and all the cast in full attendance. I particularly liked how it is black actors that schooled us all on the work of Tennessee Williams, which this play is based on. A lot of people in the audience were familiar with the movie version starring Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor but Adrian Lester explained that this was a watered-down version. They (the black cast) were much truer Tennessee Williams version of his story. Phylicia Rashad as herself has a great presence.

  In a nutshell, it was a beautiful evening. And it’s a testament to the work of the producers that the audience was really mixed, with people of all ethnicities and all ages.

  Alice says
  December 12, 2009 at 4:54 pm

• The play was good, James Earl Jones brought it alive. Phylicia Rashad played the doting loving woman who wants to believe the sun shines out her husbands backside (knowing full well it doesn’t) really well. Worth seeing and also worth a huge mention were Derek Griffiths, Peter de Jersey (a fine performance as Gooper) and Nina Sosanya (Brilliant as Mae.)

  Leon says
  December 10, 2009 at 4:07 pm

• Totally agree with the previous comments. The all-black cast was symbolically powerful but didn’t really alter the dynamics of the play which is both a good and a bad thing. I was a bit unsure about the casting of Adrian Lester, especially as he was following in the shoes of Terrence Howard (who does a fine line in troubled men) but he was very good – really uncovered the depths of a man stewing in his own self-hatred and grief. James Earl Jones is powerful and Sanaa Lathan and Phylicia Rashad were good. It’s a landmark production so a must-see for anyone passionate about theatre but anyone going because they loved Mrs Huxtable or Love and Basketball may be disappointed!

  Tee says
  December 8, 2009 at 10:59 pm

• Saw the play. Enjoyed it, though found it a little tedious during the latter part of the first section. I nevertheless found Sanaa Lathan very exhilirating and Adrian Lester complemented the part very well. It did not ignore that Dysfunctional family exists in all quarters. James Earl Jones really did capture the rage of a man facing his own mortality but Phylicia Rashad on the other hand did not show the pain of a woman being bullied and growled at by her husband. I failed to understand what the fuss was about it being a “totally black cast”!!

  Sharon says
  December 7, 2009 at 5:17 pm

• Thank you for the interesting article.

  I’m really looking forward to seeing it.

  Vijay Patel says
  December 4, 2009 at 3:37 pm