The Glass Menagerie is a play by Tennessee Williams that was originally written as a screenplay for MGM, to whom Williams was contracted. Thomas Lanier Williams III (March 26 1911 &ndash February 25 1983 better known as Tennessee Williams, was a major American playwright who received many of the top theatrical The play premiered in Chicago in 1944, and in 1945 won the prestigious New York Drama Critics Circle Award. The New York Drama Critics' Circle is made up of twenty-two Drama Critics from daily Newspapers, Magazines and Wire services The Glass Menagerie was Williams' first successful play; he went on to become one of America's most highly regarded playwrights. The Glass Menagerie is accounted by many to be a biographical play about Williams' life, the characters and story mimicking his own more closely than any of his other works. Williams (whose real name is Thomas) would be Tom, his Mother, Amanda, and his sickly and disturbed sister Rose would be Laura (whose nickname in the play is "Blue Roses").
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Characters
Persons represented:
- Amanda Wingfield, the old overbearing single mother who tries to live vicariously through her children. Thomas Lanier Williams III (March 26 1911 &ndash February 25 1983 better known as Tennessee Williams, was a major American playwright who received many of the top theatrical Her devotion to her children has made her ignorant to their wants and needs.
- Laura Wingfield, Amanda's daughter. She is slightly crippled and has an extra-sensitive mental condition.
- Tom Wingfield, Amanda's son, the protagonist. He aspires to be a writer but feels both obligated towards and burdened by his family.
- Jim O'Connor, a friend of Tom and Laura in high school. He is invited over to the Wingfield's house for dinner with the intent of being Laura's first gentleman caller. He seems like a dream come true for the Wingfields.
Plot Summary
The play is introduced to the audience by Tom as a memory play, based on his recollection. Amanda's husband left the family long ago, and she remains stuck in the past. Tom works in a factory, doing his best to support his family. Amanda is obsessed with finding a suitor for Laura, who spends most of her time with her glass collection. Tom eventually brings Jim home for dinner at the insistence of his mother, who hopes Jim will be the long-awaited suitor for Laura. Laura realizes that Jim is the man she loved in high school and has thought of ever since. He dashes her hopes, telling her that he is already engaged, and then leaves. Tom leaves too, and never returns to see his family again.
Stage productions
Original productions, 1944-45
The Glass Menagerie was actually reworked material from one of Williams' short stories, "Portrait of a Girl in Glass". The play was first produced by Eddie Dowling and Louis J. Eddie Dowling ( December 11 1889 - February 18 1976) was an Actor, Screenwriter, Playwright, producer Singer at the Civic Theatre in Chicago, on December 26, 1944. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. Events 1481 - Battle of Westbrook - Holland defeats troops of Utrecht. Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. It premiered on Broadway at the Playhouse Theatre on March 31, 1945, and moved to the Royale Theatre, with a combined run of 563 performances. Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located The Playhouse Theatre is a West End theatre in the City of Westminster, located in Northumberland Avenue, near Trafalgar Square. The Bernard B Jacobs Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 242 West 45th Street ( George Abbott Way) in midtown- Manhattan. It was awarded the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Play of the season. The New York Drama Critics' Circle is made up of twenty-two Drama Critics from daily Newspapers, Magazines and Wire services
- Amanda Wingfield -- Laurette Taylor
- Tom Wingfield -- Eddie Dowling
- Laura Wingfield -- Julie Haydon
- Jim O'Connor -- Anthony Ross
Revivals
The play has been revived on Broadway six times. Laurette Taylor ( April 1, 1884 – December 7, 1946) was an American actress primarily on stage with some forays into silent film Eddie Dowling ( December 11 1889 - February 18 1976) was an Actor, Screenwriter, Playwright, producer Julie Haydon ( June 10, 1910 – December 24, 1994) was an American Actress who performed on Broadway and in Anthony Ross ( February 23, 1909 – October 26, 1955) was a Broadway stage and film actor The 1965 production, at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, ran for 175 performances, and starred Maureen Stapleton (Amanda), Piper Laurie (Laura), Pat Hingle (Gentleman Caller), and George Grizzard (Tom). The Brooks Atkinson Theatre is a Broadway theater located at 256 West 47th Street in Manhattan. Lois Maureen Stapleton ( June 21, 1925 &ndash March 13, 2006) was an American Academy Award -winning actress Piper Laurie (born January 22, 1932) is an American actress of stage and screen noted for her role in the television series Twin Peaks Martin Patterson "Pat" Hingle (born July 19, 1924) is an American Actor. George Cooper Grizzard Jr (April 1 1928 &ndash October 2 2007 was an American Emmy Award - and Tony Award -winning actor of Film and stage
A Circle in the Square Theatre revival in 1975 again starred Stapleton and Rip Torn as Tom, and ran for 77 performances. The Circle in the Square Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 235 West 50th Street in midtown Manhattan. Rip Torn (born February 6, 1931) is an American Television and Film Actor, who is perhaps best known for his role as Artie
A production opened at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre on December 1, 1983 and ran for 92 performances. The Eugene O'Neill Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 230 West 49th Street in midtown- Manhattan. Events 800 - Charlemagne judges the accusations against Pope Leo III in the Vatican Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) It starred Jessica Tandy as Amanda, Amanda Plummer as Laura, and Bruce Davison (Tom) and John Heard (Gentleman Caller). Jessie Alice Tandy ( June 7, 1909 &ndash September 11, 1994) was a British - American stage and film actress Amanda Michael Plummer (born March 23, 1957) is an American award-winning Actress. Bruce Davison (born June 28, 1946) is an Academy Award -nominated American Actor and Filmmaker. John Heard may refer to John Heard (ferryman (born 1835 ferryman and namesake of Heard's Ferry John Heard (actor (born
The Roundabout Theatre production opened at the now-demolished Criterion Center Stage Right on November 15, 1994 and ran for 57 performances. Events 655 - Battle of Winwaed: Penda of Mercia is defeated by Oswiu of Northumbria. Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) Julie Harris starred as Amanda, with Calista Flockhart (Laura), Željko Ivanek (Tom), and Kevin Kilner (Gentleman Caller). This article is about the American actress For the Academy Award-winning costume designer see Julie Harris Julie Harris (born December Calista Kay Flockhart (born November 11 1964) is an American Actress, primarily on Television. Željko Ivanek ( born August 15, 1957) is an Emmy Award -winning American Television, Film Kevin Kilner (born May 3, 1958) is an American television and film actor
On March 22, 2005, a production opened at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre and starred Jessica Lange (Amanda), Sarah Paulson (Laura), Christian Slater (Tom), and Josh Lucas (Gentleman Caller). Events 238 - Gordian I and his son Gordian II are proclaimed Roman emperor. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Ethel Barrymore Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 243 West 47th Street in midtown- Manhattan. Jessica Phyllis Lange (born April 20 1949) is an American stage and screen actress who among many other accolades has won two Academy Sarah Paulson (born December 17, 1974) is a Golden Globe -nominated American actress Christian Slater (born August 18, 1969) is an American Actor who has starred in films such as Heathers, Josh Lucas (born Joshua Lucas Easy Dent Maurer; June 20, 1971) is an American Actor. The production ran for 120 performances and 29 previews.
A recent revival of The Glass Menagerie was a West End revival at the Apollo Theatre, and ended on 19 May 2007. The West End of London is an area of Central London, England, containing many of the city's major tourist attractions businesses headquarters and the commercial Events 1535 - French explorer Jacques Cartier sets sail on his second voyage to North America with three ships 110 men and Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. It was directed by Rupert Gould and starred Jessica Lange as Amanda Wingfield.
Film and television adaptations
At least two movie versions of The Glass Menagerie have been produced, the first directed by Irving Rapper in 1950 , starring Gertrude Lawrence, Jane Wyman, Kirk Douglas, and Arthur Kennedy, and the second by Paul Newman in 1987, starring Joanne Woodward, John Malkovich, Karen Allen, and James Naughton. Irving Rapper ( January 16, 1898 &ndash December 20, 1999) was a film director Gertrude Lawrence (July 4 1898 - September 6 1952 was an English actress and musical comedy performer whose work spanned from the 1920s to the 1950s Jane Wyman ( January 5, 1917 &ndash September 10, 2007) was an American actress. Kirk Douglas (born Issur Danielovitch; December 9, Arthur Kennedy may be Arthur Kennedy (actor Arthur Edward Kennedy, British colonial administrator Paul Leonard Newman (January 26 1925 &ndash September 26 2008 was an Academy Award Joanne Gignilliat Trimmier Woodward (born February 27, 1930) is an American Academy Award - Golden Globe - Emmy and John Gavin Malkovich (born December 9, 1953) is an Emmy Award -winning two-time Academy Award -nominated American Actor Karen Jane Allen (born October 5, 1951) is an American Actress, best known for her role as Marion Ravenwood in Raiders James Naughton (born December 6 1945) is an American Tony Award -winning Theater, Film and Television Actor Williams characterized the former, which had an implied happy ending grafted onto it, as the worst adaptation of his work. It is not currently available on VHS or DVD.
There is also a TV adaptation by Anthony Harvey, broadcast on ABC on December 16, 1973, starring Katharine Hepburn, Sam Waterston, Michael Moriarty, and Joanna Miles. Anthony Harvey (born June 3, 1931) is a British film editor and director. The American Broadcasting Company ( ABC) is an American Television network. Events 755 - An Lushan revolts against Chancellor Yang Guozhong at Fanyang, initiating the An Shi Rebellion Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. Katharine Houghton Hepburn (May 12 1907 – June 29 2003 was an American actress of film television and stage Samuel Atkinson "Sam" Waterston (born November 15 1940) is an American actor noted particularly for his portrayal of Jack McCoy Michael Moriarty (born April 5 1941) is an American - Canadian Tony and Emmy -winning Actor of stage and screen Joanna Miles (born March 6, 1940, in Nice France) is an American Actress. All four actors were nominated for Emmys, with Moriarty and Miles winning. An earlier television version, recorded on videotape, and starring Shirley Booth, was broadcast on December 8, 1966 as part of CBS Playhouse. Videotape is a means of recording images and sound onto Magnetic tape as opposed to movie film. Shirley Booth ( August 30 1898 – October 16 1992) was an American Actress. Events 1609 - Biblioteca Ambrosiana opens its reading room the second public library of Europe. Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network. Hal Holbrook played Tom and Pat Hingle played the Gentleman Caller. Harold Rowe "Hal" Holbrook Jr (born February 17, 1925) is an American Actor. Booth was nominated for an Emmy for her performance as Amanda.
There is an Indian version of the movie, filmed in Malayalam language. The Indian film industry is the largest in the world in terms of ticket sales and number of films produced annually (877 feature films and 1177 short films were released in the year 2003 Malayalam cinema refers to Films made in the Indian state of Kerala in the Malayalam language. The movie titled Akale (meaning Beyond), released in 2004, is directed by Shyamaprasad. Prithiviraj, Geethu Mohandas, Sheela and Tom George play the main characters. Music was scored by M Jayachandran
In 1997, Kiefer Sutherland (star of the popular TV show 24) returned to his theatrical roots, starring with his mother (Canadian actress Shirley Douglas) in a Canadian production of The Glass Menagerie at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto ( http://www.kiefer-rocks.com/bio/ ). Kiefer William Frederick Dempsey George Rufus Sutherland He has Scottish ancestry from both parents and is the grandson of Canadian politician Tommy Douglas. 24 is an Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning American action Drama Television series. Shirley Jean Douglas OC, LLD (born 2 April 1934) is a Canadian television film and stage actress and Activist.
Parodies
The Glass Menagerie was parodied by Christopher Durang in a short one-act entitled For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls, in which Laura is replaced by a wimpy hypochondriac son named Lawrence, and the "gentleman caller" becomes Ginny, a butch female factory worker with a hearing problem. Christopher Ferdinand Durang (born January 2, 1949) is an American Playwright known for works of outrageous and often absurd comedy
Ryan Landry and The Gold Dust Orphans did a parody called The Pickaw Menagerie, set in a FEMA trailer in post-Katrina New Orleans, with Landry playing Amanda in an all-male cast. The Gold Dust Orphans are a fringe Theater company based in Boston and Provincetown MA The term FEMA trailer,or FEMA travel trailer,is the name commonly given by the United States Government They provide intermediate term shelter intended to function Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the costliest hurricane, as well as one of the five deadliest in the history of the United States
Ten Directions Productions has created a show called Bouffon Glass Menajoree which parodies The Glass Menagerie in the Bouffon style of clowning. Bouffoon (Eng "buffoon" " Jester " is an art form which originally concerned the "ugly people" of France, during the French The show features a hunchbacked Tom who revels in his drinking, a self-destructive Laura who plays cutting games with her knife, and an obesely fat Amanda. The gentleman caller is played by an audience member. The show has toured to several festivals in the United States in 2006 & 2007.
External links
- Internet Broadway Database listing for all productions
- Study resource for writing about The Glass Menagerie
- Internet Movie Database listing for 1966 television production
- Bouffon Glass Menajoree
- Akale at the Internet Movie Database
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