“THE GLASS MENAGERIE"

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29366, 19 November 1960, Page 11

“THE GLASS MENAGERIE"

New Phoenix Theatre Production

The Phoenix Theatre will present the first Christchurch production of a Tennessee. Williams play since 1954 when ‘‘The Glass Menagerie" begins a six-night season in Beggs Hall on Monday evening. The last play by the American dramatist was “Summer and Smoke” presented by toe Rangiora Drama Group six years ago.

“The Glass Menagerie” was the first Tennessee Williams play to reach Broadway and also the first to reach toe screen. Gertrude Lawrence made one of her rare screen appearances as toe mother (with Jane Wyman as toe daughter) in toe film version released in 1951.

The story, told with poignancy and humour, concerns toe reminiscences of a merchant seaman, Tom Wingfield, about his life with his mother and sister in a shabby St. Louis flat across the alley from a dance hall. Maysie Collins, a well-known member of the Phoenix group, plays the mother. Shona Macdonald, a newcomer to Christchurch. who until last year played leading roles in Hastings Group Theatre productions, plays the daughter. An accomplished all-round young actor, Douglas Nottage. takes the part of Tom, and Eric Wood <Othello in their last production) is the gentleman caller. The set has been designed by the producer, John Batstone.