"The Glass Menagerie," a classic, semi-autobiographical play by American author Tennessee Williams, is coming to Pioneer Theatre Company Oct. 21-Nov. 5.
The play first premiered in 1944 and was one of Williams' first successes, according to a news release. A young man named Tom Wingfield (played by Zachary Prince) narrates the play, reflecting back on a time when he lived at home with his overprotective mother, Amanda (Nance Williamson), and his socially awkward sister, Laura (Hanley Smith), who also has a limp.
Williams based the play on his own life and family, according to the news release. Director Mary Robinson, who previously directed "Inspector Calls" and "Of Mice and Men" at PTC, said in an interview with the Deseret News that she has started to see how Williams could have been discovering something about his own life and past as he wrote the play.
"Why did he feel the need to write this autobiographical play before he could move on to other plays?" Robinson said. "What is he discovering as he narrates, as he writes? As he gets to the end of the play, what did he learn?"
She said that in the play, the older Tom, who could represent Williams, is looking back at his younger self at a time when he felt torn and oppressed, living at home and working at a warehouse when he felt he was meant to be a poet.
"The older Tom is trying to figure something out about his family and about his relationship with his mother and his sister," Robinson said. "That's been a fascinating lens from which to see and work on (the play)."
His mother, Amanda, wants nothing more than for a gentleman caller to arrive and whisk Laura away to her happily ever after, according to PTC's website. She asks Tom to help make that happen by bringing over his friend from work, Jim O'Connor (Logan James Hall), according to the press release.
Laura, meanwhile, is content to play with her little glass animals.
"I think Laura is one of the dearest, kindest and most creative imaginative characters in all of theater," Hanley Smith said. "She's socially inept, so she's not as comfortable out in the world, but if the people who are dear to her are happy, then she's so happy. There's a graciousness and selflessness in that that I think is really lovely. I think it's important to play that as a strength for her and not a weakness."
Smith played Laura once before, in her first job right out of college. But nine years later, she said she's bringing a new perspective to the role. For one thing, she has since gotten married to another actor, William Connell, whom she met while they were both working on the same production.
"It could have so easily happened that we didn't meet," she said, "or that we met and just circumstances took us in opposite directions, as happens in 'The Glass Menagerie' for Laura and the gentleman caller. Two people who are really wonderful for each other and could really have this incredible love if they were given the chance — and it just doesn't happen. How profoundly heartbreaking that is. I think about that and I get teary-eyed."
There's a trap, Smith said, in "The Glass Menagerie" where it would be easy to portray the story as morose, Amanda as a witchy and suffocating mother and Laura as pathetic and weak.
"Actually, I think (Laura) has a lot of hope," Smith said. "Her love is this massive power. … In a way by playing the role, you're also fighting for her and you hope to just inspire her with some gumption that she can achieve her dreams. But the play ends before you get to see whether or not that's true."
The role of Amanda is one that Robinson said the play "hinges on," but she thinks they got lucky and cast it well with Williamson.
"(Williamson) is just fantastic," Robinson said. "I've known her for many years. … I've seen her in a number of things, and it's just a beautifully exciting role for her to be doing at this time in her life and career."
Both Smith and Robinson said they're excited to be a part of producing such an iconic piece of American history.
"(Williams) just writes so beautifully. The language is so lovely. It's poetic on the one hand. On the other hand it's also connected with the characters," Robinson said. "I just love plays that yield their riches gradually as this one does."
"I think it's going to be a very touching and beautiful show that I know I'm really honored to be in," Smith said. "It's about the universal human condition, and there's bits and pieces of these characters in all of us that we can recognize and learn from. Hopefully you can make sure that when you leave the show, you feel inspired to connect all the more with your loved ones and with the things that are really important to you in life, and to fight for what is right for you."
Content advisory: According to PTC, the play does not contain any sexual or violent content, but does portray two characters smoking, one profanity and a few exclamatory oaths. The theater recommends the play for ages 10 and older as "younger children might be bored."
If you go...
What: Pioneer Theatre Company's "The Glass Menagerie"
Where: Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre, 300 S. 1400 East
When: Oct. 21-Nov. 5, Monday-Thursday, 7 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; 2 p.m. Saturday matinees
Tickets: $25-$44 in advance, $5 more when purchased on the day of the show. Tickets for children in kindergarten through 12th grade are half-price on Mondays and Tuesdays
Phone: 801-581-6961
Website: pioneertheatre.org
Email: mbulsiewicz@deseretnews.com
Twitter: mgarrett589