Perfectly polished ‘Glass Menagerie’ revival

BLOW OUT YOUR CANDLES, LAURA: Celia Keenan-Bolger meets ‘gentleman caller’ Brian J. Smith in ‘The Glass Menagerie.’ Photo: Michael J. Lutch

THE GLASS MENAGERIE
By Tennessee Williams
Directed by John Tiffany
Booth Theatre
222 West 45th Street
(800) 447-7400, http://theglassmenageriebroadway.com/

By Scott Harrah

Note to any producers in the future, thinking about a Broadway revival of an American classic:  This is how it’s done.  Tennessee Williams’ first play is also his most delicate, and some might argue, surprisingly accessible.  This epic of a St. Louis family in the 1930s has none of the vivacity of his later plays, but its simplicity makes it particularly heartbreaking and timeless. It only works with the right cast, without gimmicks. Despite some noticeable changes only purists might argue over, this is the most authentic Tennessee Williams production (of any of his plays) on Broadway in decades.

Director John Tiffany and scenic designer Bob Crowley have made some stylistic enhancements to The Glass Menagerie, from a reflecting pool of water to a stylized set featuring a tower of fire escapes, but nothing is distracting, and Williams’ simplistic yet florid dialogue and tragic story remain intact. The production recently transferred to Broadway from the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, MA.

The vulnerability Cherry Jones brings to Amanda Wingfield, the domineering mother, is both refreshing and true to the character.  Whether she’s nagging her children or recalling her glory days in Dixieland, we hear the sounds of desperation in every syllable.

Zachary Quinto’s take on Tom, the protagonist and narrator, is powerful in all the right places:  Sometimes nervous, ill at ease, with hyperactive movements. Whether he is arguing with his mother or talking about the drudgery of working in a shoe factory and spending mysterious nights at the movies, he displays an impressive range of awkward longing and raw emotions.

Celia Keenan-Bolger’s Laura is perhaps the strongest asset of this production. As written, the crippled, painfully shy character can easily be seen as fragile, but not terribly interesting.  However, Ms. Keenan-Bolger adds new dimensions here and thrives as a pretty but mentally and physically damaged being, relating only to her glass animal collection and words of encouragement from her brother and mother.  There is plenty of life in Ms. Keenan-Bolger’s Laura, and she really shines as an about-to-blossom flower when the famous Gentleman Caller (Brian J. Smith) arrives. Mr. Smith is entertaining as the man Tom invites over for dinner, after Amanda insists on finding a suitor for “Sister.”

The main thing missing here (often featured in other productions) is the large portrait of Mr. Wingfield, the father who left the family years earlier. But we don’t miss it, for it’s more realistic to not see the person who hasn’t been seen for ages in this doomed household.  These subtle directorial choices by John Tiffany, combined with the exceptional acting, make this a perfectly polished Glass Menagerie we may never see again.

REVIVAL REINVENTS ‘GLASS MENAGERIE’: (left to right) Zachary Quinto, Cherry Jones & Celia Keenan-Bolger in Williams’ superb memory play. Photo: Michael J. Lutch

MOTHER & DAUGHTER DISCORD: (left to right) Celia Keenan-Bolger & Cherry Jones in ‘The Glass Menagerie.’ Photo: Michael J. Lutch

The Glass Menagerie – 7 Tony Nominations, including: Best Drama Revival, Best Dramatic Actress – Cherry Jones, Best Dramatic Supporting Actress – Celia Keenan Bolger, Best Dramatic Supporting Actor – Brian J. Smith, Best Director – John Tiffany, Best Set Design, & BEST LIGHTING DESIGN – NATASHA KATZ.

Edited by Scott Harrah
Published October 4, 2013
Reviewed at press performance on October 2, 2013