The Glass Menagerie

 
Om and I went to see The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, tonight. It's Om's favorite play. Given that time has gotten so tight for my plans for tomorrow and then hiking, it was interesting to just chuck all the lists and planning, and go to a play. But I already had the tickets!

First of all, I loved the set! This long shot shows how it worked. The stairs on the left are the fire escape that is the entrance to the apartment. It went down into the orchestra pit, and really gave the impression of a walk-up. The walls of the apartment are just framed, so you can see the jazz hall windows across the alley on the left, and the broken wall of the next building just outside the apartment on the right.



The first picture is from Act 1. Amanda Wingfield (the mother) manages to keep Tom and the "defective" Laura in chaos.



Finally, Amanda convinces Tom to bring a "gentleman caller" home from work to meet Laura. Of course, although it's for Laura, Amanda manages to keep a huge amount of the focus on herself.



Jim and Tom talk about what the future might hold on the fire escape.



At dinner, Laura is ill at the thought of talking to Jim, on whom she had a crush in high school



Finally, Laura and Jim have a chance to talk! Do you know how the play ends? If you don't, I won't tell. It's a classic must-see.



The play was well-done. None of the actors was too weak to hold his or her own with the others. With a play with a small cast, that's important. Amanda was particularly good though.

It was interesting that the director chose to portray Laura more as overly shy, instead of somewhat out of touch with reality. I'm not sure what I think of that, yet. It worked all right though.

OK... sorry to cut this short, but I have to go make a salad for tomorrow, and finish packing.

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