Theatrical Review: “The Glass Menagerie”

Theatrical Review: “The Glass Menagerie”

Written by: Tennessee Williams
Directed by: Jan Julia
Theatrical Review by: Paul Adam Smeltz

The Shawnee Playhouse in Shawnee on the Delaware, PA presented The Kaleidoscope Players production of Tennessee Williams’ “The Glass Menagerie.” The play premiered in Chicago in 1944 and was reworked from one of the author’s short stories titled, “Portrait of a Girl in Glass.” The work became known as a “memory play” in which (as the term suggests) the onstage occurrences are derived from the recollections of a narrator named, “Tom Wingfield” (as portrayed by Scotty Vinnacombe) whom many consider to be Tennessee Williams himself. After receiving a modest reception in Chicago, the play moved to Broadway and received the New York Drama Critics Circle Award in 1945.

The play takes place in a St. Louis Tenement in which Tom, his sister Laura Wingfield (as portrayed by Shannon Felletter), and his mother, Amanda Wingfield, (as portrayed by Amy Jo Shaefer) lives. The family had been abandoned several years earlier by Mr. Wingfield who is the husband of Amanda and the father of Tom and Laura. Although he is a central influence on what occurs onstage, only a portrait of him hanging on the wall appears throughout the production.

In her somewhat delusional recollections of her younger days as a “Southern Belle,” Amanda seeks to instill the visages of her bygone days upon her physically handicapped daughter. Her goal throughout the play is to obtain a “Gentleman Caller” for her daughter so she could enjoy the securities of marital bliss. This in spite of the fact her marriage left her in a state of insecurity which is demonstrated through her desire to control the fate of her adult children.

Both Laura and Tom seeks to escape their mother’s overbearing by distancing themselves at every opportunity. Tom does this by leaving the apartment to attend late night screenings at the local cinema and returns home drunk so the criticisms heaped upon him by his mother is diluted. Laura retreats by listening to music from the records her father left behind and by gazing at the glass menagerie she keeps near her bed. When her retreats are not enough to isolate her from her mother, she becomes ill as she attempts to ward her effects away.

As they play progresses, Tom succumbs to his mother’s constant obsession of securing a husband for Laura and invites a co worker named, “Jim O'Connor” (as portrayed by Patrick Murphy) to come to dinner. Preparations are over made with great expectations by Amanda for Jim’s arrival. However, when the gathering occurs, Laura recognizes Jim as a boy she fell in unrequited love with in high school and is too embarrassed to greet him. She later succumbs to her mother’s will but becomes ill so she can be alone during the dinner. Jim comes to her after the dinner.

As they begin to strike up a friendship, Jim tells Laura about his Fiancé. He later reveals the news to Amanda and leaves soon afterwards. Amanda later accuses Tom of deceiving her and he soon leaves to go (as he said) to the cinema. However, this is a deception as he actually goes to sign up for the merchant marines and never returns. Yet, (as stated in his concluding soliloquy) he never left Laura behind because he is “more faithful than I intended to be.” From the distance of time, Tom encourages Laura to blow out her candles so she can walk into the brighter light of living her own life. The play ends with her seen doing so.

To say this production of “The Glass Menagerie” is very well done would be a grotesque understatement. The mood and pacing that was kept constant throughout the production enhanced the work‘s realistic depiction of every day life. It showcased all the flaws a frailties of existence often found in dysfunctional families with all its mundane aspects intact. It would be a considerable challenge for any member of the audience to leave the theater without recalling some aspect of their lives revealed through the play. The acting was superb by actors who were expertly cast for their roles.

The performance this reviewer attended, had a small audience which led to my reflection how the original production was received in 1944. However, it is with great hope more theatre lovers will come to experience this production as it will remind them why they love theater in the first place. It not only relates the stories and what composes them within each character seen and unseen on stage, but it also allows the audience to explore their own stories and what may have inspired them to be written.

The Kaleidoscope Players is a local theatrical group led by Jan Julia. In addition to presenting plays at a variety of venues including schools, They offer opportunities for those interested in the theater to develop these interests into tangible skills. Their next production at The Shawnee Playhouse will be “The Thwarting of Baron Bolligrew” to be presented from March 23rd until April 1st. The public is invited to attend auditions for the production which will take place at The Easter Monroe Public Library in Stroudsburg, PA on Saturday November 26th and Thursday December 1st.  Please Explore The Kaleidoscope Players’ Website at www.poconoplays.com for more information.

The Shawnee Playhouse presentation of The Kaleidoscope Players production of Tennessee Williams’ “The Glass Menagerie” was Directed by Jan Julia and was Stage Managed by Emily Cioc as assisted by Jasmine Sacarello. The Production Manager was David Schappert. The producer of The Kaleidoscope Players production of Tennessee Williams’ “The Glass Menagerie” was Don Slepian who also composed the original music for the production. The producers of the productions presented at The Shawnee Playhouse are Ginny and Charlie Kirkwood while the group sales manager is Mary Horn. The Box Office Staff includes Chrissy McMannus while Becky Haskell serves as the playhouse’s Sales and Marketing Director. The Executive Director of The Shawnee Playhouse is Midge McClosky.

This presentation of The Kaleidoscope Players production of Tennessee Williams’ “The Glass Menagerie” will conclude its run at The Shawnee Playhouse in Shawnee on the Delaware, PA until November 13th. Future Shawnee Playhouse presentations will include their production of “ Home for Christmas” and their Children Theater production of “A Christmas Wizard of Oz” both running from November 18th until December 22nd, “The Ultimate Elvis Tribute” on Saturday November 19th, The Northeast Ballet Ensemble production of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky‘s “The Nutcracker” running from December 3rd until the 12th, and their Annual Holiday Sing In Concert featuring Handel‘s “Messiah” on Tuesday December 20th along with their children’s presentations of “Mark Mysterrio’s Tales of Magic and Mystery” on December 26th and 27th and “Kids Kabaret” on December 29th and 30th. In addition to these presentations, The Shawnee Playhouse is seeking aspiring playwrights to participate in their Shawnee Original Playwright Series (SOPS). The Submission deadline is January 31, 2012 with Staged Readings of the finalist are scheduled to take place March 6th - 30th.

Those who enjoy the Passionate Art Lover level of membership in The Forwardian Arts Society are offered a $3.00 discount off the admission fee of The Shawnee Playhouse Productions (excluding Children Theatrical Productions and those presented by non Shawnee Production Companies). Please contact The Shawnee Playhouse at 570-421-5093 or Explore their website at www.theshawneeplayhouse.com for more information (including submissions for their 2012 Playwright Competition) and to reserve your ticket.

Photograph provided by The Kaleidoscope Players.