Character Ages in THE GLASS MENAGERIE

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 1:11am

THE GLASS MENAGERIE is probably the most famous play I've never seen performed. I've read it, sure. Many times, and have always taken the play's complex stage direction and character revelations at face value (for whatever they are worth; Tennessee Williams brands the piece a "memory play" so all bets are off).

But I was frankly shocked to discover that the actors who played the roles not only in the original Broadway production but in the first 4 major Broadway revivals were routinely at least 10-20 years older than the ages given in the script. Eddie Dowling, the original Tom was actually 51 years old when he played the 22 year old character.

I'd be curious to hear from people who have seen multiple productions of the show: is it routine for the roles as a "memory play" to be cast so much older than what is in the script?

And unrelated: has anyone seen a production that actually uses the "magic lantern" technique Williams discribes but wasn't used in the original production.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 1:56am

I think part of the reason is that the role of Amanda has long been considered one of those roles that actresses do as a crowning achievement of a long career, sort of like Lear is for male classically-trained actors. It's been that way since Laurette Taylor's legendary performance in the original production. Taylor was in her early 60s, but looked much older as the result of years of alcoholism. Since then, few actresses younger than 60 have done the part in a major production. There also may be some vanity at play in this -- actresses younger than that tend to avoid roles that have them playing the mother of fully grown adult children as long as possible (wasn't Katherine Cornell still playing Juliet well into her 50s?).

I saw Jessica Tandy play Amanda in her 70s and Julie Harris play it in her late 60s, though their Toms and Lauras were in their 20s and 30s in both productions (I've also seen others, including Lange who starred in the misguided recent Leveaux revival). While the age discrepancies weren't distracting (and while it would be biologically possible for them to have children 40+ years their junior), obviously Williams originally intended Amanda to be a much younger woman when he wrote the play. I suppose Taylor's performance changed his mind and he certainly didn't object to her casting.

One thing that casting an older Amanda does is that it lends her grand tales of her youth a more rueful, sad and sometimes pathetic quality that adds a certain tragic dimension to the play. The notion of Taylor having been once the belle of the ball seemed somewhat unbelievable and fanciful, like she was an old woman caught up in delusions about her past. Having someone as youthful and still radiant-looking as Jessica Lange play the part (though she's technically more age- appropriate to the text) removes that quality entirely -- there's no doubt that she must have once been the most beautiful girl in the county who had multiple beaus show up at her porch every Sunday.

I'm not sure whether having a 50-ish actress play Amanda is of particular detriment or benefit to the overall play, but it certainly affects some of the subtext and the psychology underpinning the relationships in the play. For one thing, there's a greater sense of desperation in seeing a 70-something Amanda pleading with Tom to find a suitor for his sister before it's too late than a 50 year old one -- you get a real sense that an older Amanda doesn't think she'll be around much longer and wants to make sure Laura will be taken care of.

But, nevertheless I think the play can work regardless of the ages of the actors cast (apparently a 50-something Sally Field was quite superb as Amanda in DC a few years ago). As long as the director and cast capture the play's poetry, intensity and rich heartfelt nature (which were all missing from the Leveaux production) it's almost always a rewarding experience.

[Jon]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 7:03am

I agree with Margo's assesment that Amanda is delusi0onal about all the gentleman callers she had in her youth.

We know Amanda is based on Williams' own mother, but so is Alma Winemiller, the heroine of SUMMER AND SMOKE. Note the same ititals - Alma can be seen as a young incarnation of Amanda. She's a lonely, suxually repressed spinster who, after losing the one man she truly loves, runs off with a traveling salesman. Could this salesman be a version of Amanda's husband - "a telephone man who fell in love with long distance"?

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 8:31am

Just as a side note and nothing more...

I sometimes wonder if producers are all that cocerned any more wirh the way a character looks onstage when portraying a particular age. Instead, it's a matter of getting butts in seats, and as a result you get things that... well, make you wonder and sometimes eve squirm a little.

Some years ago, I saw Reba McItyre in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN. No bones about it, she pulled the role off. This wasnt truck casting: she could play Annie every bit as well as I'm sure Ethel Merman must have in the original production.

The problem was her leading man, who was clearly about fifteen to twenty years her junior. In their separate scenes, they were fine. When they were across the stage from each other, they were fine. But put them together for a duet, and all the make up in the world couldnt stop me from thinking, "Ewwww, Oedipus! That's your mom!"

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 10:43am

Thank you for that analysis Margo. Can you share some more thoughts on the Jessica Tandy revival. I've heard several people over the years mention that the production was "odd" but it seems to have certainly had an interesting cast!

[Garland Grrrl]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 12:43pm

i think this is probably my favorite american play. i grew up in st. louis and have lived in the shadow of williams (and the whitewashing of williams) my entire life.
i have seen at least 10 productions of this play as well as the hepburn tv movie and two film versions.
(btw, there was a movie theater called the MAGIC LANTERN in st. louis on delmar, not far from williams' home. i saw my first movie there, SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARVES)
i think amanda's age or the appearance of her age must work in the context of the production. i don't think it's such a matter of age, but aspect. Hepburn, at 66, with the camera right up in her face, was a beautiful ruin and i completely believed she had 17 callers and probably some women chasing her too! also, an older laura such as joanna miles in the hepburn version, changes the play. whatever the director's choice of amanda, it has to work in the context of the production. i was excited to see jessica lange take on this role, but the minute they announced christian slater as tom, i knew the director had no idea what the play was about and i was right, unfortunately.
as much as i LOVE joanne woodward, her amanda seemed crazy. i think it was how the camera treated her, but i really need to believe that amanda is sane at her base, and desperate as hell. and don't start me on playing laura as retarded!!