Apr 30 2010
On Saturday night, the Portal Players performed their rendition of The Glass Menagerie to an intimate crowd at the Capitol Theatre, under the direction of Scott Lowe.
Among the fabulous cast were Ryan Gander as Tom Wingfield, an alcoholic who is afraid of the confinements of working in an unfulfilling factory job. Teresa Mulligan plays Amanda Wingfield, a former southern belle who is afraid of her son becoming an alcoholic vagrant and her daughter becoming a spinster. Belinda Zado was Laura Wingfield, who is timid and insecure because of her crippled foot. She seeks solace in her glass menagerie. Darcey Linden plays Jim O'Connor, an extremely self-assured and poised co-worker of Tom's.
Set in an apartment in St. Louis, Tom Wingfield recollects the winter and spring of 1937. The Glass Menagerie is a four-person memory play by Tennessee Williams, which first premiered in 1944.
Menagerie is a tragic family drama, full of sarcasm with bleak overtones. Laura tells her mother, Amanda, that she was supposedly in school, but instead she was really just walking around town. Being in class made her feel ill. Upon finding out that her daughter was a drop-out, Amanda sets out to find her a "gentleman caller."
Meanwhile, Tom is in a rut because he doesn't want to continue working at his mundane factory job, but he has to support his mother and sister, emotionally and financially. By Amanda's request, Tom invites Jim over for dinner to introduce him to Laura, and Amanda prepares extensively with the hopes that Jim will be Laura's suitor. Jim turns out to be a past romantic attraction of Laura's, and it causes her to become even more anxious.
The set was authenticated with old books, typical furniture and wallpaper and also a Victrola, which was an interesting relic from a bygone era. The costumes were era-fitting with the men in dress suits and heavy-collared trench coats, which helped to set the gloomy mood for the trials and tribulations of the Wingfield family. The women wore housecoats and flowing dresses.
The play ran smoothly with humorous climaxes and not one of the actors missed a beat. Each performer was passionate and created believable characters.
Highlights of the show included Tom Wingfield's mesmerizing narration, and also experiencing Amanda release a few of her insecurities, if only for a brief period, whilst conversing with Jim and sharing her glass menagerie with him.
Kudos to director Scott Lowe, stage manager Tanya Horne, Belinda Zado, Ryan Gander, Teresa Mulligan and Darcey Linden, the production team, set designer, stage crew and all of those who made The Glass Menagerie come to life. You have created a wonderful illusion.
Make sure to check this community theatre production out when it returns to the Capitol Theatre next week.
Showings are on May 7 and 8 and May 11 to 15. The lobby and concession opens at 7 p.m., and the curtain rises at 7:30 p.m. Tickets available at Rollin Art Centre, Echo Centre and at the Capitol Theatre box office, as well as at
the door before each performance.
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