This show was hard work. I found myself fidgeting and unable to concentrate, not helped by the incredibly poor off-set seating proffered by the Duke of York’s theatre. The mimed scenes/actions at the beginning were completely lost on me - I couldn’t work out what they were or what they were trying to tell me, and they didn’t really seem to fit. The atmosphere was still and oppressive, and the pace felt incredibly slow - I know the Deep South has a reputation for being laid back and relaxed, but I was looking at my watch from half way through the first act.
None of the performances really captivated me or stood out. In fact they felt forced and very disconnected and unnatural, which is somewhat ironic and a little sad given how autobiographical this play is.
The spiral staircase was probably the most impressive and interesting thing in this production. The glass menagerie consisted of one figurine and a light box, but the effect was completely lost if you didn’t have a clear line of sight.
I was really looking forward to seeing this show as I had performed a condensed and adapted version when I was younger and absolutely loved the play, but I was really disappointed. As I say, this production was hard work - it felt as though I was wading through mud and it makes me feel slightly unwell to think back to it.