MEF's Review of "The Glass Menagerie"
MEF's Review of "The Glass Menagerie"
#0MEF's Review of "The Glass Menagerie"
Posted: 3/31/05 at 2:14pm
I saw the Tuesday evening performance of "The Glass Menagerie," my expectations extremely lowered by the round of negative reviews that it received. I liked the production quite a bit, but it surely does have many problematic elements.
Jessica Lange is excellent as Amanda. She certainly won't erase the memory of Laurette Taylor, and Sally Field was definitely better this past summer in DC, but her performance is very nuanced and refined.
I was pleasantly surprised by Christian Slater. He brings something new to Tom that we have never seen before. Any body expecting a sensitive (ie, Gay) Tom will be out of luck. His Tom is more brooding than we are used to.
Sarah Paulson is a revelation as Laura. I can see why Mr. Leveauz fought for her. A luminous performance.
Josh Lucas is very weak as the Gentleman Caller. He was the production's weakest link. His performance was practically catatonic.
Ms. Lange and Mr. Slater each got a rousing standing ovation, which I felt was deserved. After the show, I did the stage door, where I met Leveaux, Lange, Slater and Paulson. An FYI for anybody who plan to stage door the show: Ms. Lange only signs playbills and window cards. She won't sign any stills or headshots.
Overall, I liked this show a lot more than most, and would give it a solid 3-star rating. Look for Lange and Paulson to score Tony nominations.
KindnessofStrangers
Stand-by Joined: 2/11/05
#1re: MEF's Review of 'The Glass Menagerie'
Posted: 3/31/05 at 3:34pmI haven't seen this yet, but I just can't believe that Sally Field could EVER be better than Jessica Lange in any role.
apdarcey
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/10/04
#2re: MEF's Review of 'The Glass Menagerie'
Posted: 3/31/05 at 3:36pmugh. i just feel bad for this production.
#3re: MEF's Review of 'The Glass Menagerie'
Posted: 3/31/05 at 3:38pm
"I haven't seen this yet, but I just can't believe that Sally Field could EVER be better than Jessica Lange in any role."
Although Lange was exceedingly good, Field is the best Amanda I have ever personally seen on stage. At first, I was not expecting much and really couldn't see Field in the role, but she just blew me away.
eslgr8
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/04
#4re: MEF's Review of 'The Glass Menagerie'
Posted: 3/31/05 at 3:44pmThanks MEF for the comparison between Miss Field and Miss Lange. You are lucky to have seen both of them. Sally Field seems to have gotten pretty much unanimous raves for her Amanda, and Jessica Lange has definitely divided the critics, with more minuses than plusses, though the New Yorker gave her an out and out rave review. Since I won't be able to see either of them, I really appreciate reading your review!
#5re: MEF's Review of 'The Glass Menagerie'
Posted: 3/31/05 at 3:47pmI just got my New Yorker the other day and haven't gotten to read it yet.
KindnessofStrangers
Stand-by Joined: 2/11/05
#6re: MEF's Review of 'The Glass Menagerie'
Posted: 3/31/05 at 4:46pmCan you describe how the interpretations of Field and Lage differed? I reread the play a coupla days ago and --I know this sounds simplistic-- I can't help but believe that the reason Lange has met with some criticism is that so many people have become accustomed to geriatric Amandas. Lange is the ideal age and matches Williams' description very closely. I think the New Yorker review is more thoughtful is suspecting that Lange has done her homework and gone to the source (researching William's actual mother) for this "radical" interpretation.
#7re: MEF's Review of 'The Glass Menagerie'
Posted: 3/31/05 at 4:55pm
Field's Amanda was more of the traditional Amanda that we are used to. Lange's Amanda is risk taking. Lange plays it with more comedy and vitality, while Field tapped into the darker, quiter elements of the role.
Hilton Als' review in the New Yorker is an out-and-out rave. I just read it. He calls this production "brilliantly staged."
KindnessofStrangers
Stand-by Joined: 2/11/05
#8re: MEF's Review of 'The Glass Menagerie'
Posted: 3/31/05 at 5:04pmWell, that certainly validates my opinion on why some reviews have been so negative. There is a great deal of humor inherrent in the play and, particularly, the character of Amanda. It's not buried in the subtext, it's all right there on the page.
#9re: MEF's Review of 'The Glass Menagerie'
Posted: 3/31/05 at 5:06pmKindness, I agree with you completely that Ms. Lange is the ideal Amanda. If anybody ever read the original liner notes, Amanda is supposed to be in her mid-fifties. Lange is a breath of fresh air in the role.
KindnessofStrangers
Stand-by Joined: 2/11/05
#10re: MEF's Review of 'The Glass Menagerie'
Posted: 3/31/05 at 5:57pmY'know, Laurette Taylor was 62 when she originated Amanda. Katharine Hepburn and Shirley Booth were 66 and 68, respectively, when they played the role. Amanda was still a very young woman when she married and had children (who are in their early 20s in the play), not a meopausal 40-something. The criticism that Lange is too young and beautiful is unfounded and certainly not supported by the text, which means that not only are many NY theatre critics bitchy (no surprise), but they are also lazy and ill-informed.
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