A mission pillar for Queer News Tonight is to keep our history before our eyes and ears today. One interesting example is one of history’s most notable writers and a relationship with one of history’s greatest actors. Tennessee Williams once said of Marlon Brando,
“He was just about the best-looking young man I’ve ever seen.”
That first meeting in 1947 at Williams’ Nantucket summer home, set the stage for one of the most iconic collaborations in theater history. It also inspired Gregg Ostrin’s new Off-Broadway play, Kowalski, now captivating audiences. At just 23, Brando was a struggling actor. He reluctantly agreed to one gig and took money from Elia Kazan for a cab fare to head to Massachusetts to read for Williams. He saved the money, however, and hitchhiked instead. When he arrived, the house was flooded; Brando unclogged the flooded pipe at Williams’ house and then began the reading of A Streetcar Named Desire. That night, filled with creative sparks and unspoken tension, changed their lives—and American theater—forever. Now, Kowalski dives into the genesis of Streetcar and the behind-the-scenes dynamics that brought it to life. It promises to shed light on the enigmatic chemistry between these artistic icons. Tennessee Williams was openly gay and Marlon Brando had many notorious bi-sexual relationships and there was much speculation about their relationship. But for young Marlon Brando it was 1947 and his public image was perceived very different than a writer. We can imagine the history. You can catch Kowalski at The Duke on 42nd Street, New York City, till February 16. Tickets are now available.
