OOOO I like this discussion! We had a bit of these discussions during the process of bringing this little block buster to the stage. Here's my take on it:
I don't feel Jon changed anything. I think it should be said that not a line or character was added or removed. This is a major sticking point for many of us at Artists Rep., we do not change or alter text ever. The Dr. is not an "added character" in the original script the Dr. and the Nurse come in at the end of the play and take Blanche off to the funny farm. All Jon did was to "re-stage" the play. Now the Dr. sits in a chair watching the action, observing Blanche as she re-lives the series of events that has brought her to this place. Now I think we've all heard of doing "Hamlet in the 23rd century" and I don't think it changes the "Intent" of the playwright. I feel that what Jon has done in this particular production is pay homage to Williams legacy. Bringing in elements of the plawrights life, is a valid artistic statement, IMHO. Many may not know that Williams sister was commited to an asylum, as were a great many women in the 18 and 1900's, many for no other reason than their husbands wanted to get rid of them < re.
Gas Light> Wiliams sisters committal haunted him for the rest of his life. I feel Jon has made an attempt to see how Williams must have imagined his sisters years of incarceration, constantly re-living the the memories / horror / pain / embarrasment of being carted off to the rubber room.
Anyway, That's my two cents worth. I'm happy to discuss it further. Oh and BTW we had a bit of a discussion today about the pure Brecht-ian expiriemce of opening night, never have I been so aware of being an audience member, of being such a "willing participant" of the theatrical expirience as I was last Friday went that plate went astray. Even after 25 + years we can still learn something or get a new expirience out of this silly thing we call
theatre.