THE GLASS MENAGERIE

Written by Tennessee Williams. Directed by Geoffrey Borny. Canberra Rep. Canberra Rep Theatre. July 23 to August 8.

 

The performance history of this play is an intriguing tussle between surreal and naturalistic theatre traditions and Geoffrey Borny’s perceptive production pays all this some attention. There is a screen with images and captions that comment on the action. There’s clearly been a move to the more surrealistic production elements that Tennessee Williams appears to have wanted.

But whether a playwright can dictate performance conditions is a big question.

However, despite a puzzlingly unlit stage as the audience comes in and an apparent lack of backlight in many scenes, this production captures much about the memories that Tom (Rob de Fries) lays out as he tell the story of the family he fled.

Jamie Johnston (Laura) and Victoria Tyrell Dixon (Amanda)

Mother Amanda (Victoria Tyrrell Dixon) is bent on finding security for her fragile daughter Laura (Jamie Johnston) through getting her married. But Laura lives in a world of her own, focussed on her glass animals and held back by a limp and social shyness. Hopes rise when Tom brings Jim (John Whinfield) home but it turns out that he is promised elsewhere.

Tyrrell Dickson is a fierce and uncompromising Amanda. Son Tom is usually cast as a younger man but an older casting with de Fries is able to emphasise the gulf between the present and the memories of the past.

John Whinfield (Jim) and Jamie Johnston (Laura)

And the production really blossoms when Johnston and Whinfield come together for the crucial scene between Laura and Jim. Amanda has hoped for courtship but what develops here is something else in terms of human understanding. It’s a luminous moment.

Strong performances all round sustain a thoughtful look at an important and moving play.

 

Alanna Maclean