'O.C.' Star Ben McKenzie Will Join Judith Ivey for Glass Menagerie at the Mark Taper Forum

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 8/12/10 at 7:15pm

I could imagine him being good. I liked him a lot in Junebug.
Ben McKenzie Will Join Judith Ivey in Glass Menagerie

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 8/12/10 at 7:23pm

Add this to the list of reasons I wish I could visit LA in September.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 8/12/10 at 7:23pm

love Love LOVE the play and would love to see her in it. She has acted and directed REALLY well here at the Alley. i saw the Alley MENAGERIE with Eliz Ashley and Grant Show (Snow?) from MELROSE PLACE. Quite well done. McKenzie has always hit me as a good actor...who is Laura to be?

[byebyebaby12]

Posted: 8/12/10 at 7:23pm

I thought for a second he was playing Tom, which would have been bad casting just based on his looks. I am glad he is Jim though.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 9/2/10 at 6:09pm

Anyone here planning on seeing the show?

[singingbackup]

Posted: 9/2/10 at 7:51pm

yes i do want to see this, always love the Taper

[BwayTday]

Posted: 9/2/10 at 8:00pm

I'll hopefully be seeing this in a week. I'll report back if I do.

[Q]

Posted: 9/2/10 at 8:21pm

"Television and film star Ben McKenzie and stage veterans Patch Darragh and Keira Keeley will join previously announced star Judith Ivey in Gordon Edelstein's revival of Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie to play the Mark Taper Forum, September 1-October 17, with an official opening on September 12.

Ivey, Darragh and Keeley, who will play Amanda, Tom, and Laura Wingfireld, respectively, starred in Edelstein's previous productions of the play at New Haven's Long Wharf Theatre and New York's Roundabout Theatre.

McKenzie, who will play Jim O'Connor -- aka The Gentleman Caller -- is best known for his roles in the television series The O.C. and Southland."

[mellow_otello]

Posted: 9/22/10 at 4:43pm

I really hope people see this! Here's my long two cents (with spoilers):

I attended last Saturday's evening performance of The Glass Menagerie at the Taper. Judith Ivey was freaking amazing as Amanda. She was irritating, yet charming; hilarious, but tragic; a pillar of strength, but heartbreakingly vulnerable. But most of all, she is loving. Ivey's Amanda would do anything for her children. Having grown up in the south, I was reminded of so many southern gals - the tics with the hands and the way she clenches her jaw when words (seem to) fail her. But it was Ivey's heart that made me think of home - and her sense of humor.

Patch Darragh was really good as Tom, especially when conveying Tom's restlessness and agitation. He was great at hinting at Tom's gayness and self-loathing. But I had one problem: IMHO Darragh needs to establish why Tom brings Jim to his home. His Tom seemed too aloof to be harassed into bringing someone home and too sarcastic to believe that bringing someone home would accomplish anything. Consequently, when he announces that a guest is coming to dinner, it seemed to come out of nowhere.

Keira Keeley was ultimately quite good as Laura. I wasn't sold in the beginning. She was a little too simpering to have any impact. I also felt like I was watching a collection of Laura-isms - the limp, the posture, quite nervous voice. But in her scene with Tom (when he comes home drunk from "the movies"), she seemed very real and very sad - and in her scene with Jim, she was fantastic. You felt like you were watching Laura come alive and that she was revealing her soul.

Finally, Ben MacKenzie - the boy should take some time off of film and TV and stick to the stage! What a voice! It filled the theater. On TV, he seems small but on stage he seems larger than life. MacKenzie's Jim represents the future - the "go to" post-WW2 spirit that has eluded the tragic Wingfield children. One quibble: MacKenzie is almost too charismatic. I couldn't figure out why this Jim hadn't been a star right out of high school. MacKenzie could show a few chinks in Jim's armor. But his appearance shook things up (as it should) and he held my attention the entire time he was on stage. Beside Ivey, he reminded me of a male Amanda. I've never seen the parallel between the two characters, but I couldn't help but think what Ivey's Amanda would accomplish if she'd been born 20 years later.

The production and set design are good. But character relationships could be more finely drawn. The love between Amanda and Tom, as well as the friendship between Tom and Jim. I've seen other productions handle these relationships more effectively and I suspect the individual performances would benefit. But all in all, a great night, lovely debut by Ben MacKenzie and one truly great, mesmerizing performance by Judith Ivey.

[BwayTday]

Posted: 9/22/10 at 5:21pm

I agree with most of what you said, especially your comments about Judith Ivey. You also pin-pointed Ben's Jim the way I was trying to in my mind.

Here are some of my thought (spoilers also). I sort of liked how in this production it was obvious that Amanda had a love for her children but Tom felt so suffocated by her. Even more of a reason for him to leave. I absolutely adored the strong bond between Laura and Tom. The scene when he comes home drunk wasn't even memorable to me when I have previously seen it but was a standout in this production. It showed the two character's bond and the homosexual tones in Tom. I interpreted Tom bringing home Jim because Tom almost had a crush on him. The way he acted when they entered together was so nervous and almost giddy.

I have always loved the character of Laura, something about her. Although I see that it could be a standard her to be played like Keira played her, I felt she was amazing. In the two scenes that you pointed out and also in her fragile manner. As if she was afraid of every word coming out of her mouth.

I really liked the direction of this production. It seemed very thoughtful. Of course I am one of those people who needs to see a show a few times to really absorb everything about it. I am not sure if this is a common practice when doing this show, but turning Tom into a writer made those places where he was narrating flow much better. I also noticed that one of the only times that Tom was not observing onstage was during the scene with Laura and Jim. And the last moments when Laura and Amanda run out the door and he slams the door on them was just heartbreaking.



Updated On: 9/22/10 at 05:21 PM

[nealb1]

Posted: 9/22/10 at 7:24pm

I'm seeing the show on Sunday.