# Kowalski at Lookingglass Theatre Review

> A play imagining Tennessee Williams and Marlon Brando's 1947 meeting could go deeper than fanfiction.
- Title: Kowalski at Lookingglass Theatre Review · Chicago Sun-Times
- Summary: A play imagining Tennessee Williams and Marlon Brando's 1947 meeting could go deeper than fanfiction. The play 'Kowalski' depicts Williams and Brando's 1947…
- Keywords: lookingglass theatre, tennessee williams, marlon brando, kowalski, gregg ostrin, johnny galecki, jacob moskovitz, a streetcar named desire, provincetown, 1947, theater review, chicago
- Source: Chicago Sun-Times — https://chicago.suntimes.com/theater/2026/09/23/review-kowalski-lookingglass-theatre-johnny-galecki-tennessee-williams-marlon-brando
- Published: 2026-09-23T10:30:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: lookingglass theatre, tennessee williams, marlon brando, kowalski, gregg ostrin, johnny galecki, jacob moskovitz, a streetcar named desire, provincetown, 1947, theater review, chicago
## Kowalski Play Review
Chicago Sun-Times reviews Gregg Ostrin's play 'Kowalski' at Lookingglass Theatre.
## 1947 Meeting
The play imagines Tennessee Williams and Marlon Brando's 1947 meeting in Provincetown, Massachusetts.
## Brando's Story
Brando was 23 in 1947 and Williams was 36, both working on their famous plays.
## Brando's Actions
Brando pocketed money for travel but hitchhiked with a girlfriend and arrived three days late.
## Brando's Impact
Brando fixed plumbing and electricity for Williams' bungalow before auditioning for Stanley Kowalski.
## Play Characters
Johnny Galecki plays Williams, Jacob Moskovitz plays Brando as Stanley Kowalski.
## Play Concept
The play shows Williams' cultured personality clashing with Brando's unpretentious acting style.
## Audience Knowledge
The play requires audience familiarity with 'A Streetcar Named Desire' for humor and context.
## Play Strengths
The play has strong performances from Galecki and Moskovitz but lacks poetic depth.
## Play Weaknesses
The play fails to capture Williams' and Brando's real artistic impact and raw humanity.
## Play Context
The play was initially staged off-Broadway with different leads before Lookingglass Theatre.
## Play Critique
The play is a fanfiction of Williams and Brando but misses the depth of their real works.
## Play Conclusion
The play offers historical insight but falls short of the artistic greatness it references.
## Call for Real Work
The reviewer urges more authentic portrayals of Williams and Brando's artistry rather than fanfiction.
## Key takeaway

The play 'Kowalski' depicts Williams and Brando's 1947 meeting but lacks the poetic and raw depth of their real works.