the demise of blanche dubois 

The National Ballet of Canada presents John Neumeier's searing 1963 adaptation of Tennessee Williams' landmark American classic. A simmering portrait of envy, bitterness and mental health, Neumeier divides the tale into two distinct halves. The first, romantic and softer, set to a score by Prokofiev as faded Southern Belle Blanche DuBois remembers her former life from a psychiatric hospital. From here things become darker and more shocking, Schnittke's score, mirroring the unraveling of Blanche at the hands of her complicated brother-in-law Stanley.

I have always depended on the kindness of strangers

When faded Southern belle Blanche finds her decadent life crumbling around her, she falls on the mercy of her timid sister Stella for some relief. However, she didn't factor in Stella's domineering husband Stanley, who is determined to control his wife ahead of the birth of their first child. A strong sexual marriage is suggested between the two, as well as frequent arguments and threats to leave him. Throw the sexually flamboyant Blanche into the mix, and a devastating sequence of events follow....