Is The Glass Menagerie All its Really Cracked Up To Be ?- Page 3

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 2:59am

I always recommend The Seagull to start (perhaps a Penguin edition with some nice explanatory essays). It's about actors and mothers and sons and big emotions and affairs and unrequited love and some nice poetry -- and it's funny (if you can find the Lumet film version, Vanessa Redgrave is absolutely luminous as Nina).

Then, maybe The Three Sisters -- lots of family drama, sad pitiful folks, but a good read -- or The Cherry Orchard.

However it's always better to SEE CHekhov, though, than read him. Acting students study him constantly, so there are always productions of all of the major plays happening off-off-Broadway (for $15). Not sure when the next GOOD production is scheduled in town (though I seem to remember Classical Theatre of Harlem is doing Cherry Orchard in the next month or two). There are also films of all of the major plays that pop up on Ovation and Bravo and Trio from time to time. Keep an eye out.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 3:07am

Did you see the NY Public Theatre production a few years ago? I'll be sure to pick up a copy. (My tastes tend to be more modern and that's most of what the local Vancouver scene has to offer, but it's my new year's resolution to learn the classics.)

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 3:10am

Atlantic Theater is doing Orchard with Mary Steenburgen towards the summer. :)

Posted: 1/12/05 at 4:07am

Menagerie is probably Williams' most autobiographical play (from a realistic POV--of course nearly all his plays take things from his life and exagerate them). While it's not one of my faves (my personal faves are Orpheus Descending and Sweet Bird of Youth) it's a BRILLIANT play. It's been pointed out it really is the first major American play that truly has a dreamlike "memory" feel to it, that at the time was really quite revelatory I believe (helped by Mielzener's incredible set).

Of course it has a number of lame movies--there's the hard to find early 50s one with a happy ending (and Tony Curtis I believe)--and the Paul Newman directed one from the 80s with Malkovich which tries WAY too hard to be *good* but comes off flat.

E

[broadwaygiant19122]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 9:52am

How would you classify Laura's "deformity",? for lack of a kinder word. I know its her leg, but everybodys opinion seems to be different. She makes reference to a constant sound when she walked, but Jim denies that . How has it been displayed in stage productions, or the various movies?

[AndyHardy]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 10:26am

Margo's analysis of Glass Menagerie is pretty close to mine. The layers that unfold in this play (if directed and performed well) are both astonishing and delicate (if that makes any sense).

I recall having a record (!) of Menagerie as a teen with Montgomery Clift as Tom, Julie Harris as Laura, Jessica Tandy (I think) as Amanda, and David Wayne as the gentleman caller. As I listened i remember how mesmerized I was by William's crafting of scenes and I identified very strongly with Tom -- didn't know why at the time (but now I do).

As for Laura's "deformity," in the production's that I have seen she sort of limps or hobbles about -- but her body language has always demonstrated that she is self concious about being 'different."

I think Jessica Lange is a wise choice for Amanda. I hope this production is as good as I am anticipating.

"Blue Roses"

[broadwaygiant19122]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 10:32am

So no actual cast or any such thing? I know that Williams doesnt refer to one, but I was just curious as to whether there was an actual visible difference.

[MaTakeALookAtMe]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 11:14am

The instructions at the first of the play indicate that the deformity should barley be noticeable.

It is a great play. It is not as enjoyable as Streetcar or Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, but it does have great character development.

[broadwaygiant19122]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 11:30am

I definitely found Cat and Streetcar to be more enjoyable. I am relaly looking forward to Roundabout's upcoming production.Menagerie just didnt seem to be as all encompassing as the other two. As stated again and again, guess its just a matter of how its done. I have heard incredible things about Laurette Taylor and Jessica Tandy performing as Amanda. I am sure Jessica Langer will do an incredible job as well. Best Actress in a play will be one of the busiest categories at this years Tony.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 3:35pm

I have always felt that Glass Menagerie is one of the few truly great American plays. This does not mean that the play is actor-proof. I saw both the Jessica Tandy and Julie Harris productions hit the shoals thanks to weak direction.

John Dexter directed Tandy et al and by the evening's end the audience started to feel sympathy for Amanda instead of everybody else. Oops. We all wanted to throttle Amanda Plummer for her God-awful mannerisms that had little to do with Laura.

Julie Harris felt like she was afraid to go as far down the road as Amanda as she needed to go. It was like she was afraid we wouldn't like her. But this production had the best Laura I expect to see in my lifetime by an unknown-to-me actress with the slightly absurd name of Calista Flockheart. At last a skittish half mad Laura who had enough self awareness to realize she had limitations and no idea how to rise above them. She didn't need to limp.

I think Dallas Roberts will be terrific as Tom and Josh Lucas has that nice-guy quality that Jim must have. I don't know Sarah Poulson's work.

Which leaves us with Jessica Lange who I have had problems with from the start. I don't think she has any inner humor. Amanda (and all Williams for that matter) can be very very funny and all I am dreading is a dreary Glass Menagerie.

Glass Menagerie is one of those plays like Streetcar and Gypsy where you will have after-dinner debates about different performances for years.

We shall see.

[MaTakeALookAtMe]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 5:02pm

This is slightly off-topic...but which film version is best? I've not seen any and have only read the play, never seen it.

[cliffarico]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 5:14pm

I had the privilege to see Patty Duke as Amanda in the Roundabout Reading in 2002.
It was wonderful.....

[AndyHardy]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 5:16pm

The only film I have seen was the one directed by Paul Newman. I remember liking Karen Allen as Laura -- but that was a while ago.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 5:40pm

Is that the one with John Malkovich as Tom? I remember liking him a lot, but not the actual execution of it.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 8:17pm

I love THE GLASS MENAGERIE. I directed it about 30 years ago and have seen numerous productions of it; most notably the one with Maureeen Stapleton and Pamela Peyton-Wright, the Jessica Tandy and Amanda Plummer version and (my favorite) the Julie Harris and Calista Flockhart version. In the latter, the Gentleman Caller scene was absolutely glowing. I wish I could recall who played Jim O'Conner in that version. I recall he was a handsome Irishman.

Yes, the play is full of lyrical passages and tender scenes. It's a short play, but packs much sweet emotion and poetry. I plan to see the Jessica Lange version, but am wary of it. I feel that Lange may fall into her Blanche duBois mode and although she hit all the right keys in that performance, she became strident. Let's hope she doesn't fall into the same trap with Amanda.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 8:23pm

Do you remember the Harris/Flockhart version well? Do you remember the actor who played Tom (Zeljko Ivanek)? He appeared in the original production of Master Harold... and many other theatre and TV shows and I'm a fan. Do you recall how he was? To me, Tom is the most compelling character in the play.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 8:36pm

Yes, I do recall Ivanek as being quite good. His confrontation scene with Amanda was impressive. Please remember, we're going back a good ten years, here!

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 8:38pm

At your age, what's ten years?

*runs away should DP unleash FaithPrince-like wrath on me*

[Jon]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 11:43pm

The best version EVER was the TV production from the early 1970's with Katherine Hepburn as Amanda, and future "Law & Order" prosecuters Sam Waterston (as Tom) and Michael Moriarty (as Gentleman Caller).

Posted: 1/13/05 at 6:34am

Ya the Kat Hepburn TV version is by far the best--it's available on DVD (as part of that theatre Archive series although it wasn't one of the three other Williams DVDs in the same series that Amazon has right now in a VERY VERY VERY cheap combo pack)

The Malkovich one has a GREAT performance from karen Allen but Malk and Joanne Woodward don't do as well as they should and something's wrong with Newman's directing IMHO.

Why many Cat/Streetcar fans may not liek it is its a very very different play about small moments--not "big" melodramatic (a word i use in the truest/best meaning of it) subjects. His other well known plays are much more BIG in their themes and symbolism--and I prob prefer them in some ways but...

E