A night at the theater
Jamie Mack
Issue date: 2/15/07 Section: Lifestyles
"The Glass Menagerie," a play written by Tennessee Williams and directed by Ron Weber, opened this weekend and is being presented by The Springfield Civic Theater.
The Bushnell Building in downtown Springfield, where the play is being performed, is a diamond in the rough to say the least. Although not the most glamorous theater, a small intimate atmosphere was the perfect touch for the comical and personal show.
Set in St. Louis in 1939, the play opened with Tom, the narrator, introducing the other characters - his mother, Amanda, his sister, Laura, and the gentleman caller that we wouldn't see until the last scenes of the production.
Tom, played by Dayton Shafer, struggles with his desire for adventure and monotonous life at home. Lisa Sadai plays Tom's mother Amanda, a southern belle that is stuck in a past life where she once was the object of many men's affection. Settling for a telephone man, she struggles to find her way on her own after he leaves their family. Her daughter Laura, played by Jessica Broughton, is crippled by a birth defect and lost in a world of glass figurines. Amanda desperately seeks to find her a better life than what she lives now.
The comical expression and enthusiasm provided by Shafer's monologues certainly drove the show as the story unfolded. Sadai brought life to the beautiful and eccentric Amanda through her vibrant presentation of the hopeless and distressed character.
Broughton shined in the last scenes of the performance despite the lackluster of the character of the gentleman caller, played by Paul Slagle. The play came to a lull when the tension of the first act changed to a more dramatic tone with a romantic twist. The reality and tragedy of the family's predicament comes to a head as the gentlemen caller defeats the hopes of Laura by revealing his engagement.
The tension is relieved by the sarcasm and perfect delivery of Shafer and Sadai's lines. The collapse of Laura's dreams sends her back into silent world of her glass menagerie as her mother once again blames Tom for their misfortune. Tom, feeling helpless and desperate to break free from the claustrophobic ambiance of his life, finally gains the confidence to leave his family and find his way on his own. Shafer's compelling finale ends the performance with despair and leaves the audience wanting more. Weber has truly brought Tennessee Williams' classic to life with a vibrant cast and intimate atmosphere that brings both drama and reality to the audience in the most refreshing way.
"The Glass Menagerie" is playing through Feb. 18 at the Bushnell Building in downtown Springfield. For more information call (937) 324-2172 or visit www.springfieldcivictheater.org.
The Bushnell Building in downtown Springfield, where the play is being performed, is a diamond in the rough to say the least. Although not the most glamorous theater, a small intimate atmosphere was the perfect touch for the comical and personal show.
Set in St. Louis in 1939, the play opened with Tom, the narrator, introducing the other characters - his mother, Amanda, his sister, Laura, and the gentleman caller that we wouldn't see until the last scenes of the production.
Tom, played by Dayton Shafer, struggles with his desire for adventure and monotonous life at home. Lisa Sadai plays Tom's mother Amanda, a southern belle that is stuck in a past life where she once was the object of many men's affection. Settling for a telephone man, she struggles to find her way on her own after he leaves their family. Her daughter Laura, played by Jessica Broughton, is crippled by a birth defect and lost in a world of glass figurines. Amanda desperately seeks to find her a better life than what she lives now.
The comical expression and enthusiasm provided by Shafer's monologues certainly drove the show as the story unfolded. Sadai brought life to the beautiful and eccentric Amanda through her vibrant presentation of the hopeless and distressed character.
Broughton shined in the last scenes of the performance despite the lackluster of the character of the gentleman caller, played by Paul Slagle. The play came to a lull when the tension of the first act changed to a more dramatic tone with a romantic twist. The reality and tragedy of the family's predicament comes to a head as the gentlemen caller defeats the hopes of Laura by revealing his engagement.
The tension is relieved by the sarcasm and perfect delivery of Shafer and Sadai's lines. The collapse of Laura's dreams sends her back into silent world of her glass menagerie as her mother once again blames Tom for their misfortune. Tom, feeling helpless and desperate to break free from the claustrophobic ambiance of his life, finally gains the confidence to leave his family and find his way on his own. Shafer's compelling finale ends the performance with despair and leaves the audience wanting more. Weber has truly brought Tennessee Williams' classic to life with a vibrant cast and intimate atmosphere that brings both drama and reality to the audience in the most refreshing way.
"The Glass Menagerie" is playing through Feb. 18 at the Bushnell Building in downtown Springfield. For more information call (937) 324-2172 or visit www.springfieldcivictheater.org.
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