CHICAGO – Goodman Theatre’s smart revival of Tennessee Williams’ 1959 “Sweet Bird of Youth” brings out the playwright’s keen sense of poetic drama. It tells a story of an unlikely pair, a fading middle-age film star trying to salvage her Hollywood career and a 29-year-old gigolo looking to jumpstart his.

Williams addresses issues of class consciousness, the pursuit of fame and love and the fragility of youth.

Director David Cromer has assembled a polished cast led by two high-powered co-stars. Finn Wittrock appears as Chance Wayne, a narcissistic dreamer trying to finagle his way into the movies. His latest meal ticket and traveling companion is played by Diane Lane as Alexandra Del Lago (she calls herself Princess Kosmonopolis). Fearful that her last picture might not have been up to par, she’s trying to dodge critics.