Paul Mescal’s ‘fierce’ West End performance gets glowing four-star reviews from critics

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Paul Mescal has received critical acclaim when he returned to the London stage in Almedia Theater’s production of A Streetcar Named Desire.

The 26-year-old actor has been described as “fierce” and “enthralling” as he takes on the role of Stanley Kowlaski, first made famous by Marlon Brando, in a new production of the 1947 Tennessee Williams drama.

With many critics awarding the ‘moving’ play four stars and praising Paul as a natural on both ‘stage and screen’.

Patrick Mormon of the Daily Mail described the Normal People actor as a “beast off the leash” in his four-star review of Rebecca Frecknall’s minimalist show.

‘No more boyish charm (those Celtic blue eyes) in Normal People. No more the still waters that run deep, or the pleading brows that melt your heart,’

However, he went on to say that despite Paul’s celebrity appeal, co-star Patsy Ferran, 33, was the real star of the show.

Writing: ‘The best reason to see this sold-out show, or at least pray that it transfers to the West End, is not so much Mescal, as the sensational performance of Patsy Ferran as Blanche. She turns the all-too-familiar role on its head.”

‘He’s [Paul] a beast without a leash, kicking Blanche’s suitcase and knocking over her pearls, furs and silks. There is no room here for the undertone of sarcasm or intrigue. And she screams…a lot. If you expected to pass out, stay home.’

Pasty took over the role of Blanche at the last minute after actress Lydia Wilson was forced to pull out due to injury.

The play follows Blanche DuBois, who must take a streetcar to her sister’s house in New Orleans. She faces the scorn of her brother-in-law (Paul) with dark and disturbing results.

the independentJessie Thompson said that “Mescal’s Stanley Kowalski exudes rage, wears his psychopathy on his sleeve, with a menacing sexuality that could stop traffic or make you run and hide.”

In another positive review The Guardian‘s Arifa Akbar said the powerful revival “justifies all the hype”.

Continuing the description of Paul as ‘a natural both on stage and screen’ and his ‘animalist’ characterization.

Praising the minimal set where the actors remain on stage even when not in a scene, he went on to say: ‘it’s the power of these performances [Paul, Patsy and Anjana Vasan as Stella] that gives this production its fierce and dangerous energy’.

He evening standardNick Curtis described the Irish actor as “terribly good” in the role, naming it the first big show of 2023.

Screenplay: ‘Patsy Ferran, Mescal and Anjana Vasan as Stella, Blanche’s sister and Stanley’s wife, provide the core of emotional truth to Rebecca Frecknall’s production. All three act with their entire bodies.’

And the The timesDominic Maxwell gave the production five stars: “Mescal is terrific: turning Stanley Kowalski’s latent violence into something easy, tangible, vibrant but actorless.” Ferran is simply sensational.’

‘Mescal throws the boy-next-door cuteness we fell in love with on TV in a performance that shines with muscular fixity and a mentality of pent-up fury; it is as if his charm vanished instantly and rested on the intruder like the lightning rod of incipient resentments ».

A Streetcar Named Desire runs at the Almedia Theater in London until February Four.