Perhaps Tennessee William’s best known (and least outre’) drama, The Glass Menagerie is the story of Tom, Amanda, and Laura Wingfield, who share an apartment in Saint Louis. Tom is a writer who works in a shoe factory, Amanda (his mother) keeps house, and Laura (his sister) who is somewhat impaired. Her spirit wounded, n some profound way. She spends time listening to music, and tendfing to her collection of small animals, made of glass. Amanda was raised in privilege, in the Deep South, as were presumably, Tom and Laura. When their father deserted them, they were forced to move and make do on very little. Amanda spends a great deal of time reminiscing about the halcyon days of her young womanhood, surrounded by “gentlemen callers”; taking us into a realm outside of the grubby, unforgiving world. She corrects Tom, constantly, interrogating about his nightly haunts.
Williams has created a story of three human beings trying to find refuge and distraction from disappointment and adversity. They don’t fit in ordinary life, not really. So Amanda takes excursions to the past. Tom writes poetry, and goes to the movies, and drinks. And Laura has her collection. Amanda nags to help her children better themselves. Tom gets drunk and stays out late to nullify the pain. Even when he flees, he can’t escape the guilt of leaving to salvage his own life. There is an exquisite sadness to The Glass Menagerie. Tom is both narrator and participant. He steps outside the conflagration, providing context and the warm illumination of care, for his family and himself.
The Classics Theatre Project consistently brings insightful, original angles to familiar pieces from the American Theatre canon. Director Jackie Kemp has brought his unique vision to Glass Menagerie. The set suggests a home decorated with taste but struggling with destitution. The acting style feels nuanced and matter-of-fact. Except, naturally, Amanda, whose grand bearing is only heightened by comparison. There’s something about Laura’s clothes that suggest the little girl. We experience a kind of airiness to the Wingfield living room. Perhaps something elegant but slight? For lack of a better word, this production felt more proletariat than other productions I’d seen. A choice made (I’m thinking) to enhance the accessibility of the story.
The Classics Theatre Project presents: The Glass Menagerie. Playing March 8, 2024 – April 13, 2024. Stone Cottage in Addison, 15650 Addison Road, Addison, TX 75001. 214-923-3619. theclassicstheatreproject.com