The Glass Menagerie

What a stunning opening gambit! I imagine it was the brainchild of Director Adam Cook and his Designer Victoria Lamb. The smoke and Mark Pennington’s magic lighting effects, while set pieces rose or fell into place (not quite fitting together – deliberately, to remind us this is a memory play and memory is fallible) to Composer Stuart Day’s haunting sounds of the era,  remain fast in my memory.

Out of  that emerged Anthony Gooley  (as Tom Wingfield) to set the scene and family circumstances into which, as his prologue ended, he merged to play his part in this significant slice of his life. This was his play.

Deidre Rubenstein (as Amanda Wingfield, deserted wife and overprotective mother, did a splendid job in her essentially unlovable role. Kate Cheel (Laura) created a vulnerable, introverted, disabled young woman who, for a moment, blossoms as romance seems a possibility – but the moment fades.

The scene between Laura and the gentleman caller – Jim O’Connor (played by Nic English) – was warm and poignant after Laura got over her initial anxiety attack. English created a wholesome all-American boy, charming, gracious and the ideal man for Laura in her mother’s eyes. In his presence, and with his gentle urging, we see Laura gain confidence. This long sequence in Act 2 was engrossing and a fine piece of theatre.

In fact, the whole show captivated the audience.

Jay McKee

Images: (top) Anthony Gooley and Kate Cheel & (lower) Nic English and Kate Cheel.Photographer: Matt Nettheim.