Who were the best stage versions of Maggie and Brick?

Henry Irving and Ellen Terry.

The stars of the version that played in Fords Theater in DC before Our American Cousin. In fact Cat was the play Lincoln wanted to see not realizing it had closed its engagement the week before. He said to Mary when he opened his program, "Oh God not this piece of crap." It was in no way a happy night for him.

Scott Baio and Lara Trump at the Kennedy Center

Essie Davis and Martin Henderson in Melbourne. She was outstanding and he was impressive. They were both hot.

She had just come home after overseas work that included winning an Olivier Award for playing Stella (opposite our own G!) at the National.

Liz Ashley was the best Maggie I've ever seen.

Brick is a cypher. I've yet to see anyone play the role who's managed to impress me.

Elizabeth Ashley got across the board raves. It’s still mind boggling how she lost the Tony award.

How fascinating R6.

[quote]Elizabeth Ashley got across the board raves.

It's very telling that no one remembers who played Brick opposite her. The role is a cypher, as R6 noted.

Not Jacqueline McKenzie and Ewen Leslie.

Though Marshall Napier was a great Big Daddy.

Ethel Merman and Ernest Borgnine.

Of course Allen Ludden and Betty White go without saying, as their real-life chemistry was like rocket fuel for their performances. But I don't think we should forget the once-in-a-lifetime pairing of Jim Nabors and Eve Plum in the late 1970s.

Not sure why this thread failed to spark interest, but it happens sometimes. I think it's because Maggie really is more of a star role than Brick, whereas Blanche and Stanley are both powerhouse roles in "A Streetcar Named Desire."

Keir Dullea was Brick to Elizabeth Ashley's Maggie. He was fine -- as someone upthread said, Brick is pretty much a cypher. A handsome actor with a good body and some stage presence is all that is required.

Barry Williams and Susan Dey

Much of Brick's role is to be the backup singer as Maggie and Big Daddy sing very long arias. It requires an actor good enough to stay present through that. It also requires an actor attractive enough for us to care about the fuss over him.