One thing Town and Gown’s “A Streetcar Named Desire” won’t have is a Marlon Brando copycat on his knees yelling “Stella.”

“I’ve tried to just be true to the script. I didn’t want a community theater version of Brando screaming outside,” said Eric Wagoner, director of the production.

After the 1951 film version, that scene became synonymous with the play, but there is also an intricate story in Tennessee Williams’ writings.

Set in New Orleans after World War II, “Streetcar” revolves around Stanley and Stella Kowalski, a young couple expecting their first child. When Stella’s older sister, Blanche DuBois, comes to stay with them, her psychological damage becomes problematic for the Kowalskis.

“We see (Blanche’s) experiences in New Orleans combined with the traumatic events of her youth,” Wagoner said. “We see a mental breakdown and how it affects her sister and family.”

Wagoner moved from New Mexico to Athens 10 years ago and immediately looked for opportunities with community theaters.

His first experience with Town and Gown was during the 1997-98 season when he got the lead role in another Williams play, “The Glass Menagerie.”

Since he had a history with Williams’ work, he submitted a proposal to direct “Streetcar” after it was chosen for production.

“It’s very similar with an orchestra,” he said. “You have the people playing the instruments, then the conductor putting the overall flow of a piece together.”

The auditions were held in December, but during the holiday break, many of the smaller roles in the large cast bowed out, creating a slight panic in the remaining crew.

“Some filled in just a couple of weeks ago, and normally that’s set at the beginning, and you don’t have to worry about it,” Wagoner said. “The actors I do have are just fantastic, so that makes it easy.”

Portraying a marred character like Blanche was a challenge Kristina Schultz Tanner said she wanted.

“I’d told my friends that if I didn’t get cast, they’d have to sedate me until the run of the show was over,” she said.

“Blanche can be somewhat of a chameleon, depending on who she’s with and the presented situation. In essence, I have to play multiple characters all within the realm of this one woman.”

Blanche’s sister, Stella, also was a difficult role to tackle, but Shelley Marck’s love of Williams’ plays and the encouragement of her husband, Dave, proved enough reason to accept the test, she said.

“She’s strong in ways I’m not, and weak in times that I think I would be stronger,” Marck said.

Rounding out the complex character list is the iconic Stanley, played by John Ginn.

“Come on, did you see ‘Don Juan DeMarco?’ (Brando) made fat sexy and with Faye Dunaway, no less,” he said. “The man’s acting is perfect. It’s hard not to do what he did.”