Something Cloudy, Something Clear

After my first reading of 'Something Cloudy, Something clear," I was confused and frustrated with myself. The play did little for me and I knew this had to be the result of my inattentive reading, because no Tennessee Williams play has ever failed to effect me in some way. Upon a second reading, I was immediately struck by the play's powerful nostalgia, almost frighteningly true insights and Wiliams's mastery of universal language. This is when I knew I was reading a play by the great Tennessee Williams. Much like Chekov, the play has little to do with plot. Victims of Hollywood's endless catalog of films void of subtlety, which spare audiences any thought by saying everything for them, are unlikely to enjoy this play. "Something Cloudy, Something Clear" is an opportunity to take a tour through a great playwright's life and read his welocme observations which unexpectedly leap out of the dialogue. But "Something Cloudy, Soemthing Clear" is not exclusively autobiographical, it speaks for us all. We all have moments in which we recall certain portions of our lives with surprising clarity. "[Life] finally seems to occur all at one time," as the play's main character, August, tells us. Looking back on those times, we are often better able to understand ourselves and the human experience, As Wiliams appears to have accomplished in writing this play. Written at the end of his life, "Something Cloudy, Something Clear" is a fitting epitaph to one man's relentless attempt to understand the human experience, and with plays such as this, Williams was kind enough to let us peak in at his thoughts along the way. Thank you, Tennessee.

actually, i think this is one of williams' most daring plays, as it is so autobiographical, in every detail. the main character is no doubt williams himself, every (but one) person appearing in the play have been in close contact to him in the 40s. I think it is high time to have this play performed again, as it had not seen the spotlight since 1981 (as far as i'm informed).