Plays are meant to be Seen, not Read

It does not give me any pleasure whatsoever to say that I am not a fan of the works of Tennessee Williams.  I realize that he is considered one of the greatest playwrights of the 20th century, but I just don't see it.  Maybe I'm biased because I prefer musicals, who knows?  I know that there is some value to his plays, but of the ones I have read so far, I'm just not a fan.  (For those of you who love his works, I'm really sorry.)

I do think, though, that the movie version of CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF with Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman is well worth watching.  I don't LOVE the movie, but I liked it enough that it gave me an appreciation for the play itself that I didn't have when I read it.  But that's the thing about plays:  they're meant to be seen (performed), not read.  There's just something about experiencing the nuances of an actor performing the written words that brings the words to life that is impossible to "get" when reading a play.  I think some of the best plays are written in such a way that it takes the performer to bring the words--the story--to life.  That's what separates a play from a novel or other work of fiction.  When I read a "regular" book, the story comes to life on the page because it is written to be read.

So while I am not a fan of the written version of CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, I do highly recommend the movie version.  It's not a musical, but yet the performances by the actors give the story a life of its own that makes the story understandable, enjoyable, and have the point that I think Tennessee Williams was hoping to convey.  So if you choose to watch the movie rather than read the book THIS TIME, you won't be disappointed.

Besides, Elizabeth Taylor in this dress alone makes the movie WELL worth watching!!!  The dress is quite gorgeous, but so is Elizabeth Taylor IN the dress!  Wow.