Mr. Williams and Miss Wood.

by Max Wilk

Seated at two simple desks at opposite sides of the stage the young Tennessee Williams and his agent-to-be speak of his early years as a writer and of his fateful meeting with the remarkable woman who was the first to recognize his potential as a playwright and who was to become his guiding genius as his career developed. Beginning with small fees for short plays and magazine pieces, the fledgling poet-playwright was obliged to work at a variety of drab jobs while he sought the breakthrough that would allow him to come to New York and devote himself exclusively to writing. But his first "big break," when it came, proved to be a crushing disappointment the disastrous Theatre Guild production of his first full length play, (which later, substantially rewritten, found success as ). Daunted, but still determined, the playwright continued to write, and the agent continued to promote her client's work with undiminished zeal, leading, in time, to and sudden, international fame, plus, at last, financial security. After that came the amazing succession of plays which have made the name of Tennessee Williams the most celebrated in the modern theatre, but also the gradual and, to many, unaccountable rupture of the collaboration which underlay this accomplishment. But the fruit of their association, and the fascinating events which led to them, remain and are captured with rare eloquence and understanding in this moving tribute to two singular and irreplaceable individuals.

Genres: Plays

72 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Shawn Deal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Where I enjoyed the play, there could have been some more depth to the characters and the interactions between the two of them. This plays more like a history than a drama between the two characters. The dramatic tension falls a bit flat in spots. I do recommend the play and for two actors it is very good, just maybe not quite as engaging as it could have been.

[Lark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not entirely awful. I can see this being an amazing exercise in emotional connection and character study for the two actors who get to portray the title characters, especially during Act 2, where there finally enters some emotional substance into the play!
Also: did Wilk and Wood acknowledge that Frank and TW were banging? Probably should have!

From a writing and blocking stand-point, it seemed unfocused and was far too much narrative. The blocking is at best uninteresting and at worst needless? The 2 would meet together finally on stage only to share no real dialogue before parting again! Motion had purpose but it was just back and forth from one part of an anecdote to another.
Act 2 finally gave some real insight, but it took way too long to show emotional investment for either.
LASTLY, and probably my biggest concern, was Miss Wood or Mr. Williams the focus of the play? I can see this was "adapted" from a play by both Wilk and Wood, and that Woodb fell into a coma? It seems like this was a play about Tennessee Williams which Wilk decided to make an homage to Audrey Wood by just inserting some self-insert lines book-ending each act?