DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — Rebecca Frecknall’s take on Tennessee Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire” is taking the stage at BAM’s Harvey Theater at 651 Fulton St. Hot off a run on London’s West End, the Olivier Award-winning production stars Paul Mescal (“Gladiator,” “Normal People”) as Stanley and Patsy Ferran (“Living,” “God’s Own Country”) as Blanche. 

Frecknall first gained critical acclaim and recognition for her direction of “Summer and Smoke,” another Tennessee Williams work, at Almeida Theatre and then the West End in London. The director then solidified her success with a production of “Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club” starring Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley which garnered 11 Oliver nominations and won seven of the awards, including Best Musical and Best Director. Last year, “Cabaret” took on Broadway with significant success. 

“Streetcar” was last performed at BAM in 2009, when Cate Blanchett starred and art directed and Liv Ullmann directed. 16 years later, Frecknall offers what critics and audiences have described as a very different take on the same play. 

“Frecknall’s ‘A Streetcar Named Desire,’ more-astonishing than her ‘Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club,’ presents the much-staged Tennessee Williams classic as if it’s never been done before,” raved Greg Evans in Deadline. 

The play follows the tumultuous and interwoven emotional experiences of its characters in New Orleans as Southern society adjusts to the post-World War II social climate. Blanche, plagued by mental health struggles and sexuality, moves in with her sister and brother-in-law, Stella and Stanley. Stanley struggles with his class background, masculinity, power and a changing world. “Streetcar” is a tragedy that touches on themes of mental health, sexuality, sexism and how people respond when their deeply embedded ideologies are challenged. 

So far, critics seem enthralled by both Mescal and Ferran’s performances.

“What makes Mescal’s performance so riveting is that, without ever blunting or apologizing for Stanley’s cruelty, he also reveals the soft belly of the role, the vulnerability and hurt that, for a man in his world with his upbringing, can naturally lead to violence,” said Sara Holdren in Vulture.

Joe Dziemianowicz of New York Theatre Guide said, “Patsy Ferran squeezes every drop of blood and tears out of it. By turns delicate, delusional, and downright flirty … the Spanish-born English actress is the kind of stage discovery you wish for.” 

Though some critics have had issues with some of the production choices — and some viewers took issue with Mescal, who is Irish, for his lacking New Orleans accent — the unanimous response to “Streetcar” has been generally positive. The story remains strong thanks to Williams’ timeless insights into the human condition, Frecknall’s strong direction and Mescal and Farren’s earnest performances.

“Despite some more puzzling production decisions, Frecknall’s staging of  ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ is darkly profound and beautifully acted,” said Arimide Tinubu in Variety. “A testament to Williams’ insight into the crushing transition between the past and the present, especially amid rapidly changing gender roles for women, the play is sharp, bold and still as devastating as ever.”

BAM received an overwhelming response from audiences, as tickets to the performances sold out almost immediately. Many viewers are taking advantage of cancellations and last minute tickets to get a glimpse of the stage. Tickets began at $35. 

“We hope that all who join us this season will experience promise through performance, lifted spirits, challenged perceptions and art’s transformative power through the lens of bold, colorful artistry,” said BAM Artistic Director Amy Cassello.

The production team has been praised for its outside-the-box interpretation of the play’s design. The crew includes scene designer Madeleine Girling, costume designer Merle Hensel, lighting designer Lee Curran, sound designer Peter Rice, composer Angus MacRae and casting director Julia Horan.

“Streetcar” began performances on Feb. 28 and will continue through April 6. Tickets and more information are available at BAM’s website.