In the history of theatre, I am sure that future generations will find that Tennessee Williams was the one playwright who not only wrote of the neuroses and souls of his fellow Americans, but did so with extraordinary beauty and grace.

In this collection one can find three of his most famous plays, two of which, unhappily, do not seem to be revived very often. So although it is always better to SEE a play rather than READ it, that may not be very easy.

"Orpheus Descending" deserves to be rediscovered--a highly poetic, gothic horror story of the battle between art, spirit, soul and sensuality, sexuality. Originally written for the brilliant Italian actress, Anna Magnani, it was in fact played on Broadway by the equally brilliant American, Maureen Stapleton.

"Suddenly Last Summer" was actually the basis for a very long, very self-conscious study I did for a college psych. class. Here in one of Williams most "symbol-laden" plays is his cry for an unfeeling world to accept human beings with all their faults (BECAUSE of all their faults, perhaps?) told through the disturbing memories of a woman whose family wants those memories shut up at any cost.

All three movie versions of these plays are faithful to the originals UP TO A POINT. Try to see the plays, but if that is impossible do yourself a favor: read all of Williams, including his poetry and short stories, and start with this thrilling volume of 3 of his best plays. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

The three choices for this volume fit very well together. All three include themes that are so often covered in Williams' work. Bizarre family situations, unrequitted love and battles within the self are portrayed, often brutally, in these works. For example, the struggle experienced by "Maggie the Cat" in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" is a raw blend of self hatred, self love, longing for what can't be mixed with a fearsome attempt of "keeping up appearances" within the confines of a, to say the least, very unhealthy extended family situation. I think another fine example of Williams' flair for the, shall we say extraordinary, is "Suddenly Last Summer." It's not easily described without giving away many shockers so I won't spoil that here. I highly recommend this volume as the two I just mentioned are absolutely fantastic. Also, don't ever pass up the chance of seeing the film versions of these (I speak of the originals in this case).

A great writer cannot turn out a masterpiece (that overloaded term) each time, and no one reading or seeing A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur will mistake it for Williams's best work. Nevertheless, it has a touch of his genius, and enacts in miniature what he does so well in his greatest plays. Several mismatched people living in a boarding house in St. Louis become entangled in each other's lives. Prominent among them is an aging woman now basing her hope for a "real" life on the proposal of a man hardly worth her attention, and who learns she will have to make a life for herself or remain unfulfilled. The message of the play is to appreciate what you have, rather than striving for what you cannot achieve. It's a lesson Blanche DuBois might have heeded. As always, the poetic quality of the author's dialogue and stage directions enhances the play. This nicely printed New Directions "paperbook" is recommended to those who already know the author's best work, and who would like to get a fuller sense of his different moods and subjects. (Creve Coeur is a park in St. Louis, by the way.)