THE GLASS MENAGERIE: STYLISH, MODERN, AND HEARTBREAKING

By Ruth Thompson | @ruth.thompson_ ⭐⭐⭐ | Press Invite

This was my first experience of a Tennessee Williams play and it was brilliant. Exploring themes of escapism, reality, love and loneliness, The Glass Menagerie had moments of levity and humour but running through it a sense of disappointment and sadness.

The Rose Theatre was transformed with a simple set design featuring a large neon sign that reads ‘PARADISE’ and spins as the play moves forwards. Lights on the back wall around the set were utilised beautifully to accent dramatic moments. Around a large centre plinth glass animals could be seen, coming to life in the second act whilst surrounded by atmospheric candles and flowers. I always find that this theatre allows all seats a fantastic experience and this production was no different.

Set in the 1930s the story centres around the Wingfield’s, Amanda a southern belle who wrestles with accepting her life as it is, a woman who’s husband abandoned her leaving her unable to move on from the past after choosing the wrong gentlemen caller all those years ago.

Amanda has high hopes for her two adult children which they cannot seem to met. Tom her son, who she wishes to be successful and to support the family works in the warehouse in the day and disappears at night to drink and go to the movies. An aspiring poet, it’s at the movies where he finds the sense of adventure he’s desperate for. Laura her daughter, who she wishes to see married to a schuss man is a girl with body deformities who has never been like other people and escapes into music and her glass creatures. The play follows these characters as they battle against reality each one having their own ‘Glass Menagerie’, illusions that they can escape in to.

FROM THE SET TO THE ACTING, THIS PRODUCTION WAS COMPELLING AND MOVING

The final character to appear is Jim, a boy both Tom and Laura went to high school with. Laura had a crush on him and the plot to find a husband for Laura pushes them together again. Jim gives the audience hope that the family can be happy, Amanda can see her daughter married, Tom can leave to joint Merchant Navy as the family will be taken care of and that Laura can become comfortable and enjoy the world as she deserves. The audience is treated to a wonderful intimate dance number between Laura and Jim, leaving them with hope only to realise that Jim, seemingly confident in his life and planning success also does not want to accept reality. Laura’s adoration of him pulls him back to his high school glory days which leads him to kissing her and subsequently to apologise as he is going steady with a girl and is engaged to be married breaking Laura’s heart as he leaves.

The play ends with Tom the narrator throughout the play explaining that he left, instead of the adventure he craved he explains that he moves around a lot never settling haunted by his actions and the act of abandoning Laura just like his father abandoned them.

In conclusion this was a great production and I’m happy to have experienced it as my first venture into Tennessee Williams. From the set to the acting this production was compelling and moving, creating a wonderful theatre experience everyone should see.

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Photo Credit: Marc Brenner