'Streetcar' follows track of well-worn period atmosphere

TribLIVE: In some ways, “A Streetcar Named Desire” is like a finely bound old book. The binding may be a bit worn and some of the story feels a bit old-fashioned. But the currents of desire and power that run beneath the action are eternal.

It's been nearly 70 years since playwright Tennessee Williams' play won the 1947 Pulitzer Prize. So, some of the attitudes and viewpoints that propel the drama forward — how men interact with or view women, an acceptance of violence in marriage — bring a distracting “ick” factor to some scenes.