Miriam's The Glass Menagerie Reflections- Page 2
Miriam's The Glass Menagerie Reflections
TxTwoStep
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/24/03
#25re: Miriam's The Glass Menagerie Reflections
Posted: 3/28/05 at 12:38pm
well, yes and no. i don't need to debate the wonderful Ashley (if she can keep from coughing long enough) because everyone can make their own decision, including actors playing Tom. Have you heard her say that Williams told her of his intention for Tom? or seen it in print? If you were to play Tom, your own very appropriate experience could inform your choices, and you'd more than likely do a terrific job. My hope is that Williams would allow any actor the same latitude. i'm certainly willing to acknowledge that Ashley can play to Tom in that way; but i'd much rather hear an actor speak to his own intentions instead of rationalizing the author's.
And for the record, i saw the same production at The Alley that you did. i didn't see Ashley's wink. i never thought about Tom's sexuality. i thought the performance was great, and that Sela got the character across wonderfully. i've seen Sella play more overtly gay characters in workshops in NYC, and also play entirely straight characters. Our varying experiences as audience members gave us different readings of his performance, which is fine too.
And kindly don't try to trump my non-personal discussion of an interesting subject with our varying choices in the expression of our sexuality. i can see the temptation, but i'd appreciate sticking to the dramaturgy and not the personal politics.
#26re: Miriam's The Glass Menagerie Reflections
Posted: 3/28/05 at 1:02pm
An actor MUST be respectful of the writer's intentions.
A good actor will NOT just play whatever they feel. We are rarely to never playing ourselves. I just find your comment "i'd much rather hear an actor speak to his own intentions instead of rationalizing the author's" to be an irresponsible acting choice.
I brought up the other (unfairly? I'll concede to that) to relate my point. Apologies if it landed harshly as that was not my intention.
#27re: Miriam's The Glass Menagerie Reflections
Posted: 3/28/05 at 1:08pm
Also--the Sella/Ashley production at the Alley proves my point. The subtext WAS there by Sella and Ashley--in just the way it needed to be. Some audience saw it--others didn't. And, that's just fine.
"It's important to be clearly specific, not to be specifically clear."
TxTwoStep
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/24/03
#28re: Miriam's The Glass Menagerie Reflections
Posted: 3/28/05 at 1:27pm
i'd say Sella's choices somewhat contradict your point. The sexuality of the character was not mentioned in the review, and you are the only person i've heard mention it. If it was in the subtext, perhaps maybe it was in yours, and not his. But how knows or cares?
i was careful not to say that an actor should ignore the playwright's intentions. You know that's not what i meant. i just think sometimes actors (and directors) might not make their own point of view clear by justifying that they are playing the playwright's intention. The theatre is a medium for the actor. Otherwise playwrights would (and possibly might should in some cases) write novels. That way the character motivation will be explicit, as novelists can let us know what characters are thinking, precisely. When a playwright chooses the genre of performance, in naturalism, then what the actor contributes is paramount.
#29re: Miriam's The Glass Menagerie Reflections
Posted: 3/28/05 at 2:34pm
The sexuality of the character was not mentioned in the review?? Huh whuh huh? What does THAT have to do with anything? Sella played Tom as a gay man--whether or not you saw this. I am NOT the only person who saw this in Sella's performance. I actually worked at the theatre--or did you forget that? It is the subtext of the play--Williams put it there. It's there if you want it. Clearly, you do not. Fine. Play your Tom straight--and best to ya. 
As for taking on a play--an actor's quest is to explore the script. It's like a mystery--the unlocking of the signposts that a playwright gives you. It is only after you have collected all of the givens that are asked of you by the playwright and the director, that you can fill in the rest with your own imagination and choices. An actor can only choose actions based on what is in the script--he must be true to the script. When, a director does not do this, we get into the realm of deconstructionism and "revisionist" takes on the classics. And that can be brilliant stuff--or it can simply not work. Name a "straight" Tom that has worked. It if did--bravo! But, again, I have never seen it work--and I have seen a few.
TxTwoStep
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/24/03
#30re: Miriam's The Glass Menagerie Reflections
Posted: 3/28/05 at 4:20pm
calm down, Heather.
Ever think that the people you talked to about the performance might share your subtext? The point of the Houston review mention is in contrast to what some read into the NYC reviews...that because Tom's sexuality is a "given" (your concept, not mine) then successful Toms are played gay. If Sella's performance was judged successful by you, then his character's sexuality might have been mentioned in the Houston review. It was not, by a notably gay reviewer. My suggestion (not a fact, but my opinion, something which you might want to try sometimes, as stating opinions as facts can be quite presumptous) is that the sexuality of the character was not an issue at all in The Alley's production, and yet it was still a good characterization.
No one's arguing your "signpost" metaphor in an actor's journey. You might want to expand it to realize that there are many paths through many forests. The reiteration, time and again, that Tom's sexuality is in the "subtext" of the piece, is a pretty good indicator that Williams did not pound any "this is the way to go" signs on any trees. Until there is dialogue provided about Tom's sexual desires, interpreters are free to look for their own "signifiers".
#31re: Miriam's The Glass Menagerie Reflections
Posted: 3/28/05 at 6:38pm
sidenote: it's "the Alley" or "Alley Theatre" and never "The Alley" or "The Alley Theatre"
Everett Evans didn't mention Tom being gay--and that's an argument?? Especially when he is a crappy critic? oooook. How do YOU know that Sella played Tom as straight? (he didn't btw)
And, I will not take advice from you on not posting opinion as fact.
And, I am not going to take acting advice from you either. Of course, I know there are many paths. Every actor's Hamlet or Tom will be different because every actor is different and has different imaginations and choices---but ignoring what a writer gives you can be a wrong turn. So we disagree what Williams gives. Fine. We are going to have to agree to disagree as neither one of us is going to change his opinion.
TxTwoStep
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/24/03
#32re: Miriam's The Glass Menagerie Reflections
Posted: 3/28/05 at 6:53pm
gosh, what an open mind. i'd never presume to give you acting advice, since you've done very well without mine. Any time within this thread that you've seen me presenting my opinion as a fact (such as in "from William's lips to Ashley's ears") i'd be happy to own up to it. And a thousand pardons for the wrong capitalization of a wonderful place. Who knew i could show such disrespect---and how relevant, even as a side note, it was? desperate much?
Sella's choices to play whatever he wanted were valid. i never outlawed an actor's subtext, as you did (if they chose to disagree with your reading). i never suggested that Sella had any particular subtext at all. The point of contention here was how the subtext was displayed in the performance, if we're going by Slater's example. Slater did not do so to some poster's satisfaction. Sella did to yours AND mine, though our reading of it was different. i'd call that a very successful choice for a wonderfully complex and ambiguous character.
Kindly note my original point was not about Slater or Sella per se, but about any contention that a subtext was "supposed to" be one particular way. Who would have thought that you of all people would be fighting so hard against diversity?
TxTwoStep
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/24/03
#33re: Miriam's The Glass Menagerie Reflections
Posted: 3/28/05 at 6:58pmone more thing: i'm fine to "agree to disagree." But when you give specific examples, i will debate them. i'm not trying to change your opinion, but win some respect for mine.
#34re: Miriam's The Glass Menagerie Reflections
Posted: 3/28/05 at 7:11pmoh blah blah BLAH, yawn, and scene. thank you.
TxTwoStep
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/24/03
#35re: Miriam's The Glass Menagerie Reflections
Posted: 3/28/05 at 7:15pm
gosh, guess he didn't like my subtext. Maybe the reviewers will.
#36re: Miriam's The Glass Menagerie Reflections
Posted: 3/28/05 at 7:36pm
I'll send flowers and toast you with champagne--you know I will.
TxTwoStep
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/24/03
#37re: Miriam's The Glass Menagerie Reflections
Posted: 3/28/05 at 7:40pmyou'll send me a broken mirror with a copy of the Scottish play and a whistling delivery girl, i know you!
#38re: Miriam's The Glass Menagerie Reflections
Posted: 3/28/05 at 7:43pmWell, if flowers won't do, I offer my respect for your opinion. Ok?
CurtainUp
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/9/04
#39re: Miriam's The Glass Menagerie Reflections
Posted: 3/28/05 at 7:57pm
A bit O -T: Tx - my drama class had a back-to-back with Menagerie and Southern Belle. It may sound arrogant, but it truly is hilarious having them back-to-back. I played Amanda in Southern Belle - TOO fun! And the kid who was Laurence, oy vey, was too perfect. Each play emphasized aspect each cast hadn't noticed. It was a wonderful night for both shows.
Being an HS student, I think the undertones are fairly subtle. My friend playing Tom didn't realize them until we read the parody. I think that should factor into the role, but shouild not be the domineering characteristic.
#40re: Miriam's The Glass Menagerie Reflections
Posted: 3/29/05 at 6:57am
I wouldn't say that being gay is the domineering characteristic of any gay person.
TxTwoStep
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/24/03
#41re: Miriam's The Glass Menagerie Reflections
Posted: 3/29/05 at 4:13pm
thanks for both those statements, JRB. And kudos to a high school program, CURTAIN UP, that would pair those and do the research to support them.
The other thing about "author's intentions"? notice sometime how when some good authors are asked what they might be for a specific piece (like a new play or a novel), they often will demur. Sometimes writing to "say something" or "get an audience feeling something" can be deadly. It's like waving a flag at a bull---think about what happens when the curtain speech for any show has someone telling you "this show is silly and fun and hilarious, you are going to be laughing all night" or "this show is so romantic and heartbreaking, get out your tissues." The natural tendency is to not find much in it funny (or moving), that's human pervisity. As a result, a lot of authors won't state an intention, because they hope the viewer/reader take away their own reading.
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#42re: Miriam's The Glass Menagerie Reflections
Posted: 4/13/05 at 10:25pmWhat about the performance of Josh Lucas?? Some call him over the top, and others rave about his performance. Thoughts??
#43re: Miriam's The Glass Menagerie Reflections
Posted: 4/13/05 at 10:29pmI found Lucas to be very bland and subdued.
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