The Glass Menagerie

The Glass Menagerie
By Tennessee Williams. Gold Coast Little Theatre, Southport (Qld). Director: Noella Johnson. September 7th – 28th, 2013.

The Glass Menagerie is a classic from the pen of American playwright Tennessee Williams.

Set in St Louis in the ‘30s the play is said to be reminiscent of Williams own upbringing.

A small cast of four worked hard to create the dysfunctional family and the Gentleman Caller with a minimalistic set with sombre overtones.

As the ever-meddling mother Laney McLean gave a well crafted performance, endeavouring to orchestrate the lives of her children, mildly disabled daughter Chantelle Wright and rebellious son Sasha Cuha. The well-mannered Gentleman Caller was perfectly portrayed by James Fitchett. The story is narrated by the son as an adult in retrospect.

Director Noella Johnson chose a “scenery-less” stage dressed with an assortment of items of furniture, and effective lighting plot to stress the “poor” status of the Wingfield family with great effect.

The first act seemed a little laboured as the characters and background were established but the humour of the second act and the introduction of the Gentleman Caller more than made up for the slow start.

In keeping with GCLT’s claim, this certainly was “Intimate Theatre at it’s best”.

Roger McKenzie

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