CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF

Original titleCAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF
CategoryPlay
AgegroupAdults
Cast13 total (5 F and 8 M)
Variable cast sizeNo
RepresentationNordic representation
TranslatorJacob Hirdwall
TranslatorBjörn Melander
LanguagesDanish, Swedish, Norwegian, English

The rich, tyrannical owner of a cotton plantation, Big Daddy, returns home from a clinic unaware that he is dying of cancer. Except for his wife, the older members of Big Daddy’s family, two sons and two
daughters-inlaw, all know his true condition.

Indeed, it is really because of Big Daddy’s illness and the hope of featuring in his will that his eldest son Gooper has taken time off from his law practice to bring his wife and children to visit the plantation. The excuse for the visit is that Big Daddy’s homecoming coincides with his birthday. As Gooper and his wife angle for advantage over Big Daddy’s favourite son, the retired football player Brick, they flaunt their brood of six children, and deride Brick’s drink problem and barren marriage to Margaret. Brick and Big Daddy retire after the birthday celebrations for an awkward, intimate conversation during which it is revealed that Brick’s alcoholism was precipitated by the suicide of his closest friend. Discovering from Big Daddy that family and friends all thought the friendship `unnatural’ Brick angrily reveals Big Daddy’s true condition in reprisal. At the same time, it becomes evident that Brick’s marriage is barren because he has rejected Margaret, after learning that she had once successfully tried to seduce this same friend. Big Daddy retires to his room, furious and fearful, where he is followed by a hysterical Big Mama after she, too, learns the truth. The play closes with Margaret trying to seduce Brick in the hope that she will conceive and produce an heir for Brick and Big Daddy’s fortune.
5 F / 8 M / 4 Children

Drama

The rich, tyrannical owner of a cotton plantation, Big Daddy, returns home from a clinic unaware that he is dying of cancer. Except for his wife, the older members of Big Daddy’s family, two sons and two
daughters-inlaw, all know his true condition.
Indeed, it is really because of Big Daddy’s illness and the hope of featuring in his will that his eldest son Gooper has taken time off from his law practice to bring his wife and children to visit the plantation. The excuse for the visit is that Big Daddy’s homecoming coincides with his birthday. As Gooper and his wife angle for advantage over Big Daddy’s favourite son, the retired football player Brick, they flaunt their brood of six children, and deride Brick’s drink problem and barren marriage to Margaret. Brick and Big Daddy retire after the birthday celebrations for an awkward, intimate conversation during which it is revealed that Brick’s alcoholism was precipitated by the suicide of his closest friend. Discovering from Big Daddy that family and friends all thought the friendship `unnatural’ Brick angrily reveals Big Daddy’s true condition in reprisal. At the same time, it becomes evident that Brick’s marriage is barren because he has rejected Margaret, after learning that she had once successfully tried to seduce this same friend. Big Daddy retires to his room, furious and fearful, where he is followed by a hysterical Big Mama after she, too, learns the truth. The play closes with Margaret trying to seduce Brick in the hope that she will conceive and produce an heir for Brick and Big Daddy’s fortune.