The Glass Menagerie

[low_delta]

Saw it for the first time tonight. One my least favorite plays!

The first act was a combination of dull and annoying. The mother is an annoying harpy. Her son is strong, and tries halfheartedly to fight it until he can leave, and the daughter is weak and can only take it.

The second half shows a gentleman caller interested in the shy and anxious daughter.

The ending is even bleaker than the rest of the play.

Comments

[ravenfeather.livejournal.com]

:)

I love the play, but then I lived parts of it. Nobody talked about such things, so a play that showed them was amazing. Not necessarily GOOD, but...

[therobertpaul.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you'll want to avoid The Seagull, too.

[halfmoon-mollie.livejournal.com]

I have seen it live once. I've watched a couple of presentations of it on various media. I totally agree with you, it's bleak. That is a very appropriate adjective.

I find most of his work bleak, actually.

[ravengirl.livejournal.com]

lol Yeah, I'm not fond of that play, either. Nor the film. I like some Tennessee Williams, but this one is just a tale of stupidity and frustration to me!

[eyelid.livejournal.com]

Why did you go if you don't like the play? Or did you not know in advance?

[serendipity.livejournal.com]

It's been a long time since I've seen the Glass Menagerie. Mostly these days I tend to seek out lighter entertainment and might not enjoy this play as much as I did way back when. I definitely remember the bleakness, but also something of its power and insight into complex individuals and family relationships. The fact that it was autobiographical makes it even sadder - although fortunately for all of us the playwright managed to extricate himself from his family and share his talent with the world.

I didn't realize that the play is currently on Broadway with Sally Field. I also looked up a couple of reviews for the Milwaukee production. (See also: https://onmilwaukee.com/ent/articles/reviewglassmenagerie.html)