Drama Ensues In Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie
By Preston Sinclair
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| Photo by Michael J Lutch |
"I am disappointed,
but I am not discouraged."
Tom
The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams is that perfect storm of sense and memory that rarely occurs in anyone's life. I almost can't believe that I was there to see it. The circumstances that brought me to the Booth Theater on October 26th, 2013 at 2PM most certainly won't happen again in my lifetime. To have shared it with nine friends, some of them old and some of them new, was a sublime experience.
Zachary Quinto (Tom), Celia Keenan-Bolger(Laura), Cherry Jones(Amanda), and Brian J. Smith(Jim) came together to produce a single effect, and that effect was extraordinary. Sometimes the word ensemble can imply mediocrity or sameness, however that is not the case here. I prefer to think of them as a team, each bringing his or her own strengths to the stage, as they perform their dance around family dysfunction and social graces.
Zachary Quinto's Tom moves around the stage with a feline grace punctuated by sudden tics which signal his growing inner conflict. His outbursts are accompanied by violent Tourette's like jerks of his arm. He gradually loses his ability to stay in control of even his own memory as his family methodically drives him to drink.
There was a lively discussion over drinks at Sardi's after the show about the dialect Zachary used. Was it country, or Southern, or mid-Atlantic? It took me a couple of days to place it. I remember a friend of mine who grew up in New Orleans explained to me one time that all the great port cities on the east coast have unique accents due the amalgamation of British, French, Spanish languages. Therefore, Tom's accent could be explained by his having spent time in the merchant marines, since he was narrating the story after the fact.
Then it hit me where I'd heard that voice before. It was the voice of Tennessee Williams. I had in the past watched various clips on You-tube from Tennessee Williams interviews, documentaries, and biographies. I realized that Zachary had nailed Williams' wry humorous tone of voice.
Celia Keenan-Bolger's Laura is the terrified tiny dancer, the last unicorn who has her horn broken by her encounter with the gentleman caller. While some see her as weak and damaged, I believe she was stubborn and full of will. After the play, the cast was accepting donations for Broadway Cares, the HIV/Aids charity, at the exits to the auditorium. I remember seeing Celia, still in character. She really is petite. Someone asked her if she was okay. She bravely nodded in the affirmative that she was as she gave the next donor an electric smile. (I had already given at The Gentleman Caller's little red bucket.)
One of the quintessential moments in the play is the kiss between Laura and the Gentleman Caller. One must remember that this is a memory play. In reality, the kiss probably amounted to a peck on the cheek, however Laura and Jim held their intimate kiss on the mouth for what seemed like an eternity. There was nothing passionate, nor even sexy about it, yet this image will be emblazoned on my mind for eternity.
Cherry Jones' Amanda reminds me of my great-aunt Ruth, God rest her soul. She was a christian martyr as well. She was the last of her generation who was able to pass withering judgement with a twinkle in her eye and a smile on her lips, a lost art indeed.
One of my favorite scenes is when Amanda 'interrogates' Tom about the gentleman caller (Jim). She prances across the stage as she plays "twenty questions" like a school girl. It was a deliberate and endearing moment at the same time.
Brian J. Smith's Jim, The Gentleman Caller, was just a big flirt. He flirted with Laura. He flirted with Amanda. Hell, he even flirted with Tom in his own bro-mantic sort of way. The point is that he couldn't help himself. Jim struggled with his own demons, his own version of low self esteem if you will. His recklessness and eagerness to please is what turned this story on it's path toward tragedy, and the truth.
When Brian's Gentleman Caller first entered I noticed that he spoke with a slight sibilant 's'. Some may consider this a minor speech impediment. Later, Jim announced that he was taking a class in public speaking for self improvement. Perhaps this was the weakness that he alluded to when he told Laura that he wasn't perfect, or perhaps it was something else.
As is always the case with Tennessee Williams, drama ensues.
Resource Links:
Craig's To Do List: Arts and Entertainment editor for a CBS affiliate.
The New Yorker Review
USA Today review
Zachary Quinto (Tom), Celia Keenan-Bolger(Laura), Cherry Jones(Amanda), and Brian J. Smith(Jim) came together to produce a single effect, and that effect was extraordinary. Sometimes the word ensemble can imply mediocrity or sameness, however that is not the case here. I prefer to think of them as a team, each bringing his or her own strengths to the stage, as they perform their dance around family dysfunction and social graces.
 |
| Photo by Michael J Lutch |
There was a lively discussion over drinks at Sardi's after the show about the dialect Zachary used. Was it country, or Southern, or mid-Atlantic? It took me a couple of days to place it. I remember a friend of mine who grew up in New Orleans explained to me one time that all the great port cities on the east coast have unique accents due the amalgamation of British, French, Spanish languages. Therefore, Tom's accent could be explained by his having spent time in the merchant marines, since he was narrating the story after the fact.
Then it hit me where I'd heard that voice before. It was the voice of Tennessee Williams. I had in the past watched various clips on You-tube from Tennessee Williams interviews, documentaries, and biographies. I realized that Zachary had nailed Williams' wry humorous tone of voice.
 |
| Photo by Michael J Lutch |
One of the quintessential moments in the play is the kiss between Laura and the Gentleman Caller. One must remember that this is a memory play. In reality, the kiss probably amounted to a peck on the cheek, however Laura and Jim held their intimate kiss on the mouth for what seemed like an eternity. There was nothing passionate, nor even sexy about it, yet this image will be emblazoned on my mind for eternity.
 |
| Photo by Sarah Krulwich |
One of my favorite scenes is when Amanda 'interrogates' Tom about the gentleman caller (Jim). She prances across the stage as she plays "twenty questions" like a school girl. It was a deliberate and endearing moment at the same time.
 |
| Photo by Michael J Lutch |
When Brian's Gentleman Caller first entered I noticed that he spoke with a slight sibilant 's'. Some may consider this a minor speech impediment. Later, Jim announced that he was taking a class in public speaking for self improvement. Perhaps this was the weakness that he alluded to when he told Laura that he wasn't perfect, or perhaps it was something else.
As is always the case with Tennessee Williams, drama ensues.
Resource Links:
Craig's To Do List: Arts and Entertainment editor for a CBS affiliate.
The New Yorker Review
USA Today review
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| Program for the 2013 revival on Broadway |
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| A New Directions paper book on sale in the lobby for $12. |
