While discussing future plays, the PM&L Theatre Board, wondered if there was a classic play the 52-year-old Antioch production house had never done.
There was — the timeless Tennessee Williams play written nearly eight decades ago called “The Glass Menagerie.”
“It’s not one of the happiest of stories,” admitted Darius Russelle, who is directing the play running March 25-April 10.
Showtimes are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays March 25-April 9; 2:30 p.m. Sundays March 27-April 10.
But Russelle added the play stands the test of time because, “At its core, it deals with family dynamics” that ring true today. He added it is “extremely well-written,” earning it the New York Drama Critic’s Circle Best American Play of the Year in 1945.
“What I really want the audience to get is that not every family is perfect. Every family has something that’s going on,” said Russelle, a Gurnee resident who works at AbbVie.
Russelle added the play offers the actors a chance to do some great dialog. “Williams was adept at exploring the many arcs of each character,” Russelle said. “In every scene, the actor can dive deeply into the motivation of the character.”
The play, based on Williams’ own life, is told by the character Tom Wingfield. He remembers spending the Depression years with his mother, Amanda, and his shy, disabled sister, Laura. They live in a small home; their father left them years ago. Tom works to pay for rent and groceries.
Amanda, trapped in her memories of being a young debutante, wants her children to do better. She wants her son, who escapes his life by drinking and going to the movies, to find a suitable husband for Laura, who spends her days caring for her delicate glass figurines, including a unicorn.
Helen Harold, the actress who portrays Amanda, shows the many sides of a woman who wants her children to succeed, but leans on her son to help pay the rent and worries about them not having a father figure, Russelle said.
In Act 2, Amanda becomes a sweet woman, changing her tone to get one of Tom’s coworkers to become interested in Laura.
“I think her character has so many things to go through throughout the story,” Russelle said. “It’s a challenge. It’s wonderful if done correctly.”
He chose Harold to play the part because of her ability to go deep into a character. “She did a great dramatic monolog for us in auditions,” Russelle said.
Anthony Mannion, who plays Tom, is a young adult who has won awards for his acting skills. “He brings a lot of energy to this show,” Russelle said. “He’s really good. I’m enthralled by Anthony.”
Eleanor Wells, who plays Laura, has performed Shakespearean theater and is also doing film work.
“This role is her dream role,” Russelle said. “She drives an hour to rehearsal. She’s always wanted to do the show. She’s magnificent. She brings the shyness to the character. She has this vulnerability in her. But she also knows who she is. She just happens to be shy. She has a sweet presence on the stage.”
Matthew Leptich, who portrays Jim, Laura’s potential suitor, typically plays bigger-than-life characters on stage. “The audience will see a side of Matt they haven’t seen on stage,” Russelle said.
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Audiences often want stories to have a good ending, especially if it’s one that centers around family, Russelle said. But the ending of “The Glass Menagerie” is open to interpretation, he said.
“At the end, we do hope Laura finds herself a husband and we are hoping Amanda finds a good job for herself,” he said.
“Anybody in theater knows this is a biography of Tennessee Williams,” said Russelle. Williams did have a shy sister who suffered from ailments and likely had an overbearing mother.
But Russelle doesn’t want the actors to be attached to Williams’ life story. Rather he wants a story to be told that every single person in the play is trying to achieve something. “But you don’t have to get everywhere you want to be. I think that’s OK,” he said.
Russelle added it’s easy to relate to one of the characters in the show. An argument between mother and son in the play rings true today, he said. “I’ve had similar conversations with my mom over the years. I think that hits home for a lot of people. It touches people at the heart,” he said.
Russelle said he enjoys working with PM&L Theatre because the company not only does comedies and musicals, but also dramas like “The Glass Menagerie.”
“The fact that PM&L is willing to invest funds on this story says a lot about the theater,” Russelle said.
‘The Glass Menagerie’
When: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays March 25-April 9; 2:30 p.m. Sundays, March 27-April 10
Where: PM&L Theatre, 877 N. Main St., Antioch
Tickets: $10-$20
Information: 847-395-3055, pmltheatre.com
Sheryl DeVore is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.