Trinity’s Glass Menagerie Is Cracked

Trinity Repertory Company has unveiled a slightly refurbished version of playwright Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie. The semi-autobiographical memory play focuses on the Wingfields: Tom (Brian McEleney), who serves as narrator, his overbearing mother Amanda (Anne Scurria), and his withdrawn sister Laura (Mia Ellis). They live a modest existence in a small apartment.

The Wingfields are struggling to survive. Tom and Laura’s father deserted the family, and Amanda fears Tom will follow in his father’s footsteps. Tom works at a shoe warehouse and seems to have no direction in life. Amanda worries about him going to the movies every single night, although he may be frequenting bars instead. Laura is terribly shy and wears a leg brace. She dropped out of business school and cares for her collection of glass figurines, a “menagerie” as Amanda calls it. “She lives in a world of her own,” Tom says. Amanda hopes to find a gentleman caller for Laura, and enlists Tom’s help. He invites a handsome high school classmate named Jim (Dennis Kozee) over for dinner.

Williams has a knack for crafting richly textured dialogue and strong characters. Tom, Laura and Amanda are all reaching for dreams that may be beneath their grasp, and they are haunted by their unrealized desires.

Scurria is truly magnificent as a woman who wants the best for her children while lamenting her own shattered dreams. McEleney is a talented actor, but his mannerisms are far too camp. At times, he seems to have wandered in from another play. In one scene, Tom applies lipstick and wears a body stocking. If Tom is meant to be a closeted homosexual, then it should have been conveyed in a more subtle manner. It’s just too distracting. Ellis is sweet and touching as Laura and has a few poignant moments with Kozee.

Director Brian Mertes has come up with some imaginative staging. Tom performs a monologue while lying on a bed suspended in the air by wires. The lighting design conveys a sense of melancholy and is quite effective.

There is a fair amount of music, including an onstage guitarist, a violinist, and the sound of bells ringing. The characters also break into song at one point. I am not sure these musical interludes were really necessary. The power of Williams’ words and imagery do not need anything to divert our attention away from them.

Is the production worth seeing? Absolutely, as long as you walk in with lowered expectations. This production of The Glass Menagerie has its heart in the right place, but doesn’t quite succeed.

The Glass Menagerie runs Feb 26 through March 29 in Trinity Rep’s Chace Theater. Tickets are on sale now at trinityrep.com, by calling 401.351.4242 or at the theater’s box office at 201 Washington St., Providence.