Rick Simone-Friedland is genuinely inviting as Tennessee Williams in his solo show, KIND STRANGER. Billed as a memory play, the piece is an adaptation of Williams’ memoirs. The scene takes place in New Orleans during 1972 to 1975. This is apparently the time it took Williams to write these anecdotes.
Of course, Williams was around 61 years old then, and Simone-Friedland’s appearance in the production is decidedly much younger looking. But it is far from a distraction. Costumed in effortless, slightly bohemian dress, Simone-Friedland is all Summer and Smoke-style, Southern charm and dandy intellectual at once, creating a delightfully appealing character that audiences are willing to hear. And also wonderfully constructing the mystique of the iconic playwright.
KIND STRANGER plays like a “best of” meander through time. Successes, loves, losses and many surprises. Not especially emotional or sentimental, nor punctuated by any particularly loud moments. On the contrary. Williams looks life in the face and is definitive about his desires, his needs and also his breakups when necessary. Nevertheless, the material is tender. It moves like a lullaby to its gentle decrescendo, leaving the listening a lingering sense of peaceful quiet. Every transition bleeds into the next thought, the next phase, the next action. Which for good or not so good, removes all dramatic friction and climactic end from the production.
In all though, KIND STRANGER is a beautifully performed reveal of character and of a life thoroughly lived. Simone-Friedland’s adaptation gives audiences the benefit of real-time with Williams as he takes every bit of space to reflect upon it.
Recommended.
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Conceived and Performed by Rick Simone-Friedland. Adapted for the Stage and Directed by Steven Simone Friesland.
Photo credit: Steven SimoneFriedland: Rick Simone-Friedland as Tennessee Williams.
Tracey Paleo is the Editor-in-Chief, and personality of GiaOnTheMove.com (GOTMLA) (since 2009), and a Member of the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle (LADCC). She is a former Awards Co-Chair of the LADCC and Producer of the 54th Annual Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Streaming Awards Show which aired on Instagram and Facebook on April 8, 2024. A digital first for any stage awards in Los Angeles. (In 2015 Tracey was also responsible for broadcasting the 1st Annual Stage Raw Awards live, via Twitter in 2015. Also a first for any stage awards in Los Angeles. The broadcast garnered over a million and a half views and trended alongside, Madonna, The Avengers Movie, and Drake). She is also a contributor to Broadway World Los Angeles. Tracey is the former Managing Editor of Footlights Publishing.
Her past bylines include FootLights Publishing (Managing Editor, Social Media Director, News Desk, Features), Discover Hollywood Magazine, The Tolucan Times, and WEHO News. Tracey has been a Contributor to Broadway World Los Angeles since 2021.
As a former actor, she is widely known for her principle role as Darlene, in Martin Scorsese’s, Oscar-Winning film, “The Departed”.