The Artful Jurist

Apparently, there's talk around Broadway about taking the current Brooklyn Academy of Music production of Tennessee Williams' classic, A Streetcar Named Desire, featuring Cate Blanchett in the role of Blanche DuBois, and moving it across the East River to a Broadway theater.

Why should that raise a legal issue? Well, Actor's Equity (the actor union) has rules about the percentage of non-American actors it allows to traipse about the boards on a Broadway stage in any given show, and Ms. Blanchett's production features a cast of Australian actors from her Sydney Theater Company.

Yes, there are legal agreements about such things. And they're not just in the United States. Ask any professional actor how difficult it is for an American actor who's not an international household name to get permission to perform in London's West End.

Still, with these sort of things, money usually talks loudest. The show has reportedly been a big hit. So, if Ms. Blanchett's willing to do it again on Broadway, my guess is the legalities will someone get worked out.