Summer and Smoke

  • January 13th, 1970 - January 17th, 1970
  • Campus Theatre
  • Drama
  • Contemporary Piece Series
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FJC To Stage Williams' Play

— Fullerton College Hornet  - Staff Writer - Friday, December 19th, 1969

"Summer and Smoke" by Tennessee Williams, the second drama department production, will be presented on Jan. 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 at 8 p.m. in the FJC campus theatre.

Reservations for the play may be made at the Theatre Arts de partment or by telephoning 8718000 or 871-8007, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Ticket prices are adults $1.50 and students 75 cents. FJC students holding Student Discount Cards will be entited to one complimentary ticket. Adults or students wishing to attend in groups of 15 of more may receive special discount prIces.

Tennessee Williams wrote "Summer and Smoke" in 1948 and it was first presented at the Music Box Theatre, New York City on Oct. 6, 1948 by producer Margo Jones.

The plot centers on the character of Alma, a somewhat puritanical Southern girl, and an puritanical young doctor. Each is basically attracted to the other, but because of their divergent attitudes toward life each over the course of the years is driven away from the other. The struggle is Alma's trying to resolve the conflict between her over for the the doctor and her inability to express her love.

Tennessee Williams is a great American playwright who deals almost entirely with the problems of Southern life. Many of Williams' plays have been made into top rated movies featuring some of the greatest stars in the movie industry. "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" written in 1955 starred Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman. "Sweet Bird of Youth," 1959 starred Paul Newman and Ed Baggley. "The Night of the Iguana," 1961, starred Richard Burton. Other plays by Tennessee Williams include "You Touched Me" (1945); "A Streetcar Named Desire" (1947); "The Rose Tatoo" (1951); "Camino Real" (1953); "Orphens Descending" (1957) "Suddenly Last Summer" (1958); "Period of Adustment" (1960); and "The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore" (1963).

Tennesse Williams won the Pulitzer prizes for "A Streetcar Named Desire" in 1948, and "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" in 1955. He also won the New York Drama Critics' Circle awards for these plays and for "The Glass Menagerie" in 1944. Williams received his first recognition in 1940 when the Theatre Guild produced his "Battle of Angels."

Director of the student production, Mr. George Archambealt,< said, "I have been a devotee of Tennessee Williams ever since my first contact with his plays. My devotion is based upon my belief that the poet comes closer to the revelation of truth, real truth about human beings and the way we live."