Tennessee Williams, one of the greatest American playwrights of the 20th Century, wrote The Glass Menagerie in 1944. It is as relevant and emotional today as it was when first staged. The Indiana Repertory Theatre’s production is vibrant and poetic.
The story is based partly on William’s own troubled youth. The Wingfield family of St. Louis is struggling. Mother Amanda (Julie Fishell) is obsessed with getting her daughter Laura (Delaney Feener) a husband to take care of her, and is upset that her son Tom (Felipe Carrasco) isn’t doing more to help. Tom is a dreamer and poet stuck working in a warehouse, and Laura has a disability and seems as fragile as the glass animals she collects. The mother brags about her youth and how many “gentleman callers” she had in her heyday, before she met their father. Laura has a disability that has made her self-conscious and shy, unable to take classes at a business college. She confesses to her mother that she liked a boy in high school, who was popular and would never look at her twice. Tom announces that he is bringing a friend home, and the mother goes way over the top to impress the boy, making elaborate plans to entice him to like Laura. The Gentleman Caller turns out to be Jim O’Connor (Sam Bell-Gurwitz), the boy Laura had a crush on. As Laura and Jim talk, they realize they have a lot in common, and Laura shows him her glass animals, including her favorite, the unicorn. They dance together, and accidentally knock over the table and the unicorn breaks. Jim also tells Laura that he is engaged, and she is crushed. Afterwards, Tom leaves home to explore, leaving his mother and sister behind to find his own dreams.
The IRT’s production is riveting, with an outstanding cast. Fishell’s Amanda is faded southern belle who is both comical and angry her dreams are never fulfilled. Feener as Laura is a revelation, with delicate gestures and vulnerability. Carrasco’s Tom balances bitterness and hope, even when he is downstage watching Jim and Laura get to know each other. The role of The Gentleman Caller Jim is in capable hands with Bell-Gurwitz, who gives the character warmth and exuberance.
If you’ve seen The Glass Menagerie before, and you’re a fan of Tennessee Williams, put this production on your list of plays to see. It runs through April 6, and tickets are selling fast. Call 317-635-5252 or visit irtlive.com for tickets and prices.
