Saturday, November 18, 2023

Mr. Throttlebottom-Smith Returns: Streetcar Named Desire, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Suddenly Last Summer. (Bonuses)

In this whimsical retelling of Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire," Blanche DuBois arrives at her sister Stella's home not alone, but with her constant companion, a Capuchin monkey named Mr. Throttlebottom-Smith. His presence provides a stark contrast to Blanche's delicate and fraying nerves, with his endless energy and mischief offering comic relief to the tense atmosphere of the Kowalski household.

As Blanche struggles with her fading reality and battles the brutish Stanley, Mr. Throttlebottom-Smith becomes a symbol of her lost innocence and the chaotic nature of her inner turmoil. His antics around the apartment add chaos to an already volatile situation, often exacerbating conflicts, but also sometimes defusing them with a well-timed distraction.

The monkey, with his playful disposition, highlights the stark contrast between Blanche's old-world gentility and the raw, visceral energy of the New Orleans setting. As Blanche's grip on reality weakens, Mr. Throttlebottom-Smith's unbridled freedom underscores her growing confinement within her own delusions.

In the climax, as Stanley reveals the truths about Blanche's past, Mr. Throttlebottom-Smith's reactions provide an animalistic commentary on the breakdown of human pretenses. When Blanche is finally led away, her parting from the monkey serves as a poignant metaphor for her ultimate separation from the world she knew, a final release of her grip on a life that can no longer be.

Mr. Throttlebottom-Smith, left behind, continues to play in the now-empty apartment, unaware and uncaring of the human drama that has unfolded, a reminder of the world's indifference to individual tragedy.


In this reimagined "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," the story unfolds on a sweltering Mississippi estate where the Pollitt family gathers to celebrate Big Daddy's 65th birthday, unaware of his terminal cancer diagnosis. Maggie, desperate to secure her and Brick's inheritance by conceiving a child, faces Brick's alcoholism and indifference. Her frustrations are mirrored by Mr. Throttlebottom-Smith, her Capuchin monkey, whose frenetic energy and shenanigans serve as an escape from her reality.

Mr. Throttlebottom-Smith accompanies Maggie as she navigates the family's greed and secrets. His antics in the background provide a stark contrast to the tension between Brick and his father, the confrontations with sister-in-law Mae and brother-in-law Gooper, and the overall suffocating atmosphere of lies and deceit.

When Maggie locks away the liquor in a desperate attempt to sober up Brick, Mr. Throttlebottom-Smith outsmarts her, retrieving the key with his nimble fingers, showcasing the futility of Maggie's efforts to control the uncontrollable.

During Big Daddy's brutal confrontation with Brick about his drinking and the truth about his health, Mr. Throttlebottom-Smith's playful interruptions underscore the absurdity of the family's denial. Even as the family dynamics spiral, the monkey remains a symbol of authenticity, living freely and without pretense, unlike the human characters.

As Maggie declares her determination to fight for her marriage, claiming she is pregnant to secure their inheritance, Mr. Throttlebottom-Smith's presence accentuates her defiance. In the end, as Brick shows a glimmer of reconnecting with Maggie, Mr. Throttlebottom-Smith's antics slow, and he settles by Maggie's side, symbolizing a possible reconciliation and the hope that amidst the chaos, there can still be companionship and support.


In this reimagined tale of "Suddenly Last Summer" by Tennessee Williams, Sebastian's story takes on an even more surreal quality with the addition of his Capuchin monkey, Mr. Throttlebottom-Smith. During the retelling by his mother, Violet, in the garden of her New Orleans estate, the presence of Mr. Throttlebottom-Smith at her side offers a bizarre and poignant reminder of Sebastian's once vibrant life.

As Violet recounts the tragic events of the previous summer in Spain, the monkey's playful behavior starkly contrasts with the dark tale she weaves. Mr. Throttlebottom-Smith, now a permanent resident in Violet's home, scampers about the lush garden, often interrupting her narrative with his antics, as if trying to distract from the grim reality of Sebastian's fate.

Throughout the retelling, Mr. Throttlebottom-Smith serves as a living link back to Sebastian, his mischievous energy a ghostly echo of the man who once was. In the climactic moments, as the truth of Sebastian's demise becomes clear, the monkey's playful innocence scampering on the beach underscores the horror and desperation that led to the young poet's end, providing a haunting and enigmatic backdrop to the human tragedy that unfolds.



BONUS 

On July 8, 1822, Percy Bysshe Shelley on vacation in Italy, prepares to take a swimming lesson from his pet Capuchin monkey, Mr. Throttlebottom-Smith.




###

In this whimsical retelling of Thomas Mann's "Death in Venice," the protagonist Gustav von Aschenbach's journey is given an eccentric twist through the presence of his Capuchin monkey, Mr. Throttlebottom-Smith. The monkey adds a layer of light-heartedness and irony to the otherwise solemn and introspective narrative.

As Gustav arrives in Venice, battling his internal conflicts and the turmoil of his artistic and personal life, Mr. Throttlebottom-Smith's playful antics serve as a stark contrast to Gustav's growing obsession with the beautiful young boy, Tadzio. The monkey's mischievous behavior in the dignified surroundings of the Venetian hotel and the city's historic streets provides comic relief and highlights the absurdity of Gustav's situation.

Throughout the story, as Gustav becomes more infatuated with Tadzio, the presence of Mr. Throttlebottom-Smith acts as a reminder of Gustav's own alienation from the normal, joyful aspects of life. The monkey's innocent interactions with the world around him underscore Gustav's descent into a state of unrequited longing and existential despair.

In the climactic scenes, where Gustav's health declines and he succumbs to the cholera epidemic, Mr. Throttlebottom-Smith's reaction to his master's deteriorating condition adds a poignant element to the narrative. The monkey's confusion and distress at Gustav's illness and eventual death serve as a touching and tragic counterpoint to the story's exploration of beauty, desire, and mortality.

Ultimately, Mr. Throttlebottom-Smith's presence in "Death in Venice" introduces a bittersweet element to the tale, bringing both levity and a deeper sense of tragedy to Gustav von Aschenbach's fateful journey.



##


In this playful adaptation of Thomas Mann's "The Magic Mountain," Hans Castorp's sojourn at the Swiss sanatorium Berghof is enlivened by the constant company of his Capuchin monkey, Mr. Throttlebottom-Smith. This curious creature adds a dimension of whimsy and unpredictability to the sanatorium's regimented and introspective environment.

Upon arrival, Hans is struck by the peculiar microcosm of the sanatorium, a place suspended in time and space, where the ill take on the languid pace of their healing. Mr. Throttlebottom-Smith, with his boundless energy and penchant for mischief, contrasts sharply with the sanatorium's patients, whose lives are marked by lethargy and the contemplation of mortality.

As Hans undergoes his transformative journey, grappling with philosophical dialogues and existential musings, Mr. Throttlebottom-Smith darts about, disrupting the monotony of the sanatorium's daily routine. His antics during the solemn lectures by Settembrini and Naphta add a layer of farce to their serious debates, as the monkey playfully snatches eyeglasses or pilfers snacks, reminding everyone of the absurdity underlying their solemn existence.

The monkey's presence also affects Hans's romantic inclinations. His interactions with Clavdia Chauchat are interspersed with the monkey's own comical courtship of various inanimate objects, mirroring Hans's awkward and tentative advances.

When the Great War looms, the tranquil isolation of the Berghof is broken, and Mr. Throttlebottom-Smith's mischief turns to a portrayal of the chaos and upheaval that infiltrates the sanatorium. His once innocent playfulness takes on an edge of desperation, reflecting the tumult of the outside world encroaching on their idyllic retreat.

In the end, as Hans departs from the Berghof to join the war, Mr. Throttlebottom-Smith remains at his side, a constant in a world gone awry. The monkey, oblivious to the gravity of the situation, continues his pranks, pulling at Hans's uniform, unaware that they are marching not towards another misadventure, but into the maw of history itself. 

Through it all, Mr. Throttlebottom-Smith remains a symbol of the enduring human spirit - playful, resilient, and ever mischievous, even in the face of the unknown.