"The Glass Menagerie" - Press Reviews
Reading Chronicle - Thursday 14 Tune
None of the four characters in Tennessee Williams' evocative play are prepared to
face up to reality.
In Kath Connelly's keenly observed characterisation of Amanda Wingfield, we had
the domineering mother using every trick in the book to control the lives of her two
children.
Sarah Ratcliff's moving portrayal as disabled daughter Laura saw her living the life of
a recluse, happy only in a world shared with her collection of glass animals.
Mark Russell was suitably brash as Jim 0' Connor, basking in the glory of his former
high-school exploits rather than recognising his dead-end job and forthcoming
marriage.
While in Chris Westgate's poignant performance as son Tom, we recognised he
needed to escape from it all - initially seeking excitement at the movies, before finally
walking out on the rest of his family as his father had done many years before.
Jimmy Keene's taut direction kept the tension high throughout.
Barrie Theobald
Wokingham Times - Wed 20 June
“Tackling a classic with real flair”
Credit should go to all involved in this evocative play.
Tennessee Williams' first hit drama presents four characters - none of who are able to
face up to the reality of their lives.
Laura, the slightly crippled daughter, uses her collection of glass animals to act out
the emotions of an existence she is too introvert to generate.
Tom, the son, escapes to the movies rather than face his frustrating, unfulfilled life
and the mother, Amanda, avoids her monotonous days by foisting her fantasies on to
her children.
Jim, the gentleman caller, relies on his former high-school popularity to boost his ego
and avoid confronting his recent disappointing achievements. He puts off telling
Laura he is engaged and instead takes her memories of him as a high-school jock and
feeds off them like a vulture.
Kath Connelly's character (playing mother, Amanda) was keenly observed. Those
who haven't read the play may think she was over the top, whereas those that have
perused Williams will know this is how Amanda Wingfield is supposed to be. Sarah
Ratcliff's portrayal of Laura was moving and Mark Russell was suitably brusque as
the former high-school hero. Chris Westgate deserves a special mention for a
remarkably poignant performance as the sad son.
Jimmy Keene's direction kept the tension mounting throughout. Overall - very
polished.
It is difficult for an amateur theatre company to do justice to the genius behind a
Williams' play, but this gritty drama was tackled well. One gripe: it was annoying to
see the sexual psychology of the characters being ignored as this quite clearly
accounts for aspects of their behaviour.
Vicki Harrington
Reading Evening Post - 29 June
In the 80s The Boss sang "When she feels like crying she starts laughing, thinking
about glory days".
In the 30s Amanda Wingfield lives by reliving the homage of her gentlemen callers
from the days when Daddy had a plantation, before the years of desertion by her
husband. Her hopes lie in any gentleman caller for her timid disabled daughter Laura,
and for her son Tom to be responsible. But Tom escapes to the movies, his poetry and
finally in his father's footsteps. The play is the guilt in Tom's memory. In the
prologue he says "I give you truth in the pleasant disguise of illusion". This
production has that feel of the shifting refractions of recall.
Sarah Ratcliff exudes the exquisite fragility of her menagerie. Her Laura is physically
and emotionally frail yet she shows the tiny vitality that snaps her from fascination to
flight.
Mark Russell is the caller Jim, Laura's High School crush, now an ordinary guy. He is
fascinated, drawn to this broken rainbow. He gives her his signature from his glory
days, gives her a kiss, and cannot realise what he takes in telling her he's got a girl. It
is an ominously captivating scene.
Kath Connelly gives Amanda the traits of a person in denial - over-zealous, laughter
from her past and refusal to name their conditions. She builds to her reverberating
truth to Tom "Don't think about us - a mother deserted, an unmarried sister who's
crippled".
Tom runs. Chris Westgate keeps Tom away from the eccentric oddball. He's aloof
from his family, yet tender towards his sister - a man who cannot forget the burden of
his deed.
Wokingham's menagerie of four has persistence in memory
William Campbell