Review: THE GLASS MENAGERIE, Royal Exchange Theatre

Photo credit: Marc Brenner

Directed by Atri Banerjee, The Royal Exchange Theatre finally brings us its brand-new production of Tennessee Williams classic The Glass Menagerie after it’s original run in 2020 was cancelled before rehearsals could even begin.

Williams’ play follows the Wingfield family and opens with an explanation from Tom Wingfield that it is a memory play and as such, the action onstage is not so much realistic, but rather how the character recalls the events in his mind.  To capture the essence of the events taking place in Tom’s memory, lighting designer Lee Curran has created a hazy but warm atmosphere with soft lighting states.  The lighting of the performance space has a particular beauty to it in the second act when the stage is surrounded by candles.  Another prominent element to the production’s lighting is the huge neon “PARADISE” sign high out of reach.  The sign not only adds to the lighting of the piece, but designer Rosanna Vize has used it to create a visual representation of hope for the Wingfields; a large beacon of hope the family look up to but is forever out of reach above them and the light of which can easily go out at any point.  Cleverly, this reflects the metaphor that features heavily throughout Williams’ play: “how beautiful it is and how easily it can be broken”, which simply proves how skilled as a designer Vize is to have made remarkable creative decisions that tie the whole production together flawlessly.

Starring in The Glass Menagerie are Geraldine Somerville (Amanda Wingfield), Rhiannon Clements (Laura Wingfield), Joshua James (Tom Wingfield) and Eloka Ivo (Jim O’Connor).  All four actors bring something different to the play and together put on a compelling performance.  Each have been perfectly cast into their roles, but the true delight in this casting is that Laura Wingfield, a character which was specifically written by Williams as “a cripple”, is played by an actor with a disability.  There have been many productions of The Glass Menagerie since it first premiered in 1944 and the character of Laura has predominantly been played by able bodied performers, so to see a more honest and true representation of a disabled character onstage by talented actress Clements is a step in the right direction in terms of the representation of disabilities throughout the arts.

The Glass Menagerie has both its heart-warming and heart-breaking moments throughout, and Banerjee’s direction really helps to give a dynamic contrast with its non-naturalistic performance style to touch the audience in different ways.  One particular scene that takes the audience on an emotional journey is the scene between Clements and Ivo in the second act, in which the staging from Banerjee and the movement direction from Anthony Missen is beautifully captivating.

Glass may be fragile, but this production of The Glass Menagerie only has strengths. A performance that has been expertly pieced together by all members of the creative team with a strong cast at the heart of it, performing Tennessee Williams’ play with the honesty and vulnerability that it deserves. 

***** Five stars

Reviewed by: Jess Dalloway

Catch this spell-binding rendition of The Glass Menagerie at The Royal Exchange Theatre until 8 October, with tickets available here.