Review: (Montreal) The Glass Menagerie

In The World of Glass

Going back to the source of a well-known Williams work at McGill

by Élaine Charlebois

In a word, Rowan Spencer’s take on Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie was fantastic. 

As Spencer notes in the programme, he based his interpretation on Williams’ original edition of The Glass Menagerie, an uncommonly performed version of the story. While this version of Williams’ play may be less known, the cast and crew members of McGill’s Players’ Theatre were nevertheless successful in delivering a vibrant and captivating performance of the iconic playwright’s work. 

In spite of minor technical difficulties, actors Andrew Cameron (Tom Wingfield), Ingrid Rudié (Amanda Wingfield), Arlen Aguayo Stewart (Laura Wingfield) and James Kelly (Jim O’Connor) remained in full character, seemingly unaffected by the glitches. Rudié was particularly superb as the matriarch of the Wingfield family. Notwithstanding the actress’s young age, Rudié delivered a convincing and highly entertaining performance as a mother from St. Louis who is left to care for the future of her adult children after the heartbreaking departure of their father.  Cameron also delivered a noteworthy and exciting performance as the troubled Wingfield son whose writing ambitions are quelled by his mother’s expectations and overbearing demeanour. 

Furthermore, the well thought-out set design, courtesy of Matthew Banks, not only enabled the play to come to life, but also succeeded in capturing the atmosphere of a single-parent household during the depression era. Overall, the strength of the cast and the cozy set of the Players’ Theatre made for an intimate and highly enjoyable experience.

The Glass Menagerie continues to February 2