Cat On A Hot Tin Roof

Nottingham Playhouse kick off the season with a fantastic production of one of Tennessee Williams's best plays. Set in a single room of a Mississippi ranch mansion during the heat of summer, all the characters struggle to communicate, but none are prepared to be honest about themselves.

The head of the family, Big Daddy, has worked his way from labourer to wealthy farm owner but the prospect of cancer has made him look at his life and family. His failing health has attracted vultures in the form of his two daughters-in-law, who want to inherit his wealth. The cat of the title is Maggie, excellently played by Lesley Harcourt (you might know her as Gemma in Taggart). She switches between purring pussycat and sharply-clawed lion and represents the modern values that Williams deplored - amoral, greedy and powerful. In contrast, Mae is a corrupted product of gentler, more traditional, values, which have made her a baby-producing machine.

Big Daddy is surrounded by the lies that have been there all his life, his children pretend to love him for more than money just as he is expected to show love for the wife he finds repulsive. The play divides nicely into three main scenes - the second is particularly tense and emotionally charged as Big Daddy confronts his younger son, Brick, a handsome college football hero, over his alcoholism. Brick turned to the bottle to avoid facing his feelings about the death of his best friend. Big Daddy wants to cut through the crap but everyone around him wants to keep the lies. When the truth does come out, it is more than he can handle.

Director Richard Baron has masterminded a superb production. You almost feel his presence on the stage alongside the actors and the audience loved it. Even the set is notable for being perfect to the last detail. The Playhouse has scheduled an excellent programme this season and, judging by this production, it will be exciting and enjoyable.

Cat On A Hit Tin Roof is on at the Nottingham Playhouse until 24 September 2005

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