Should families always love each other? Is it necessary to tell an old man that he’s dying? Does talking always constitute communication? Tennessee Williams indirectly asks all these questions in his Pulitzer-prize winning play, “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.”

Although the answers are not revealed in the play, it discloses the imperfection of human nature and the lack of definite answers in all facets of life.

“There’s so many layers in the play. You can’t watch the play and take home one thing,” Chris Buckel, director of the play, said.

“If you dig deeply, you can find so many messages hidden within the lines of the play.”

The play will be performed at the Thibodaux Playhouse on March 16-17 and 22-24 at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, March 18, there will be a matinee performance at 2 p.m.

“The talent in the play is phenomenal,” Buckel said. “It really is the best we’ve seen in Thibodaux in a while.”

Although the play lacks a hero, the story centers around Big Daddy Pollitt (Richard David.)

The Pollitt family has gathered to celebrate Big Daddy’s 65th birthday, but the real reason behind the gathering is for the relatives to battle over Big Daddy’s wealthy estate.

“Everyone is so conniving in the play. They’re all out to get Big Daddy’s millions and just try to kiss up to him,” Buckel said.

Big Daddy is dying, but no one in his family wants to tell him. All the family visits him and spends time with him, but little true feelings are ever revealed.

“The characters are miserable people, but they act like they’re happy,” Buckel said. “They just say words and talk. They never listen. To communicate and stay alive you need to listen.”

Throughout the play, each character feels like the proverbial cat on a hot tin roof.

“Picture yourself on a hot tin roof,” Buckel said. “Wouldn’t you want to get off? The thing is – they all stay on. Everybody has their own reason why they just stay on the roof.”

Buckel describes the play as excellent literature.

“It’s poetry,” he said. “You could sit there and close your eyes, and just listen to the beauty of the words. People need to give theater a chance. There’s nothing more exciting than live theater. It’s so much more rewarding because you’re there with the characters and experience it with them live.”

Although the play is recommended for mature audiences, it has little cursing or vulgar language.

“Really, it just has a lot of adult situations and conversations,” Buckel said.

Tickets for the play are $6 for students and $8 for adults. To order tickets in advance, call 446-1896.