Tennessee Williams

[Luv2play]

I'm almost finished reading the book based on his diaries, kept in the form of notebooks that he maintained for much of his career until near the end. It is a fascinating insight into his struggles which he detailed on an almost daily basis for many years.

His dependence on liquor, drugs and casual sex with escorts or street trade grew as his fame grew apace. By the age of 40 he was a mess but continued to produce great works for the stage and film. He certainly got a lot of ass in his lifetime.

The book is called Tennessee Williams Notebooks, edited by Margaret B Thornton, Yale University Press.

[jeezifonly]

Sometimes makers of great have great appetites.

Not necessarily ones you would admire in a parent, boss, or spouse. But take away any of those inherent appetites and the artwork will be diminished. 

The management of appetites by the artist is more successful for some than for others… 

In The Glass Menagerie, having an inkling that Tom may be a frustrated, closeted gay man is helpful in understanding this peculiar family. It’s not in the text, but the actor and director can make subtle choices that illuminate conflict through that prism.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

For a short time growing up, we lived in the same building as Tennessee and my dad would run into him in the elevator.

While I was entirely too young to be considered, the stories of him (mercilessly) hitting on my father became famous in my family.

[Luv2play]

Interesting that you lived in the same building as Tenn. He was such a peripatetic character that it takes some concentration in reading his diary as to where he is at that particular moment, except for his frequent references to landmarks.

The only place he truly called home was Key West where he bought his first home on Duncan Street. He added to it a studio and swimming pool. He later bought a house in New Orleans, where he had lived for much of his early years as a struggling writer. 

As his writing became more remunerative and the movie deals were made on his plays and stories, he would rent lavish accomodation in Rome and Madrid, two favorite haunts, and stay in the best hotels in Paris, London, Istanbul and elsewhere.

He would pick up and leave at the drop of the hat. It was typical when he died that it was in a New York Hotel, having just returned from a short trip to Europe, before which he had been in the States.

Late in his career, he even spent a short time as writer in residence in Vancouver BC at the university there.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

The Duncan property would be lovely as the museum, but alas, they didn't get to it quickly enough.

Just as long as it's not turned into an Airbnb.

[Luv2play]

It was interesting that he didn't provide for a literary executor during his lifetime. At least that's what I read in the book. He left a mountain of writing in many forms, novels, short stories, poetry, letters, screenplays, diaries, etc. Similar to Hemingway in a way, who also was a Key West resident for a significant part of his writing career. Talk about two different characters!