The Glass Menagerie

Black Swan’s beautiful and very contemporary feeling production of Tennessee Williams’ classic play is a rendition that is very loyal to the author’s intentions and despite its up-to-the-minute use of modern technology and staging, it evokes the poetry and original style of The Glass Menagerie, more than any production of this play that I have ever seen.

Fiona Bruce’s design is stunning, a set that beautifully evokes an apartment in 1937, despite its lack of walls, doors, and windows, with costuming that tells us much about the characters, as well as capturing the era with expertise. Lighting, designed by Lucy Birkinshaw, brings the set to life, and the use of low light is particularly stunning. Michael Carmody’s video design is outstanding, and despite this technology being unavailable when this play was written, is loyal to and builds on the original stage directions. The production is gorgeously and emotively underscored and accompanied live by composer and pianist Tom O’Halloran, present on stage throughout, often artistically in silhouette.

This small ensemble cast appear to have an almost organic connection, working together with a tangible shared history and clear and believable family connections. Mandy McElhinney is a fascinating Amanda Wingfield, blending domineering and controlling maternal relationships with a lovely vulnerability, in a performance that captivated the audience. Joel Jackson is a wonderfully conflicted Tom Wingfield, torn between familial loyalties and a need to escape. Acacia Daken is an exquisite Laura, frail and beautiful, and as fragile as her glass ornaments - yet performed with great strength. The long-awaited gentleman caller, Jim O’Connor, is drawn with depth by Jake Fryer Hornsby - completing this cast very well.

Great to see a classic that is both loyal to the author’s outlook and intentions yet produced with fresh ideas and techniques. Precisely and intelligently directed, with wonderful performances, in the beautiful His Majesty’s Theatre, Black Swan State Theatre Company’s The Glass Menagerie is not to be missed.

Kimberley Shaw

Photographer:  Daniel J Grant.