A literary work is called a classic when it stands the test of time.
Because it came from the heart of its author, it continues to speak to
the heart of its audience. It never seems out of date. Charles Dickens'
A Christmas Carol and William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet are
classics. They have been speaking to the hearts of their audience for
generations.
Tennessee Williams' play The Glass Menagerie is a modern classic. Set in
Depression-Era (1930's) St. Louis, its characters are still recognizable
in 1987. The story is of a loving family in conflict. There are no
villains in this small, closed group, but everyone gets hurt.
In the new film version of The Glass Menagerie, Joanne Woodward plays
Amanda, the mother. Amanda remembers the days when she was carefree,
single, and the prettiest girl in town. She remembers in particular the
day when 17 gentleman callers arrived at the door. It was the best time
of her life. Now she wants and needs her daughter, Laura, to fulfill
the dreams she had for herself back then.
Laura (Karen Allen) is patient with her mother. Laura is physically
handicapped by a slight limp, and she is socially handicapped by extreme
shyness. Her dreams include no gentleman callers. She just wants to be
left alone with her collection of fragile glass animals--her glass
menagerie.
Tom (John Malkovich) has many dreams. The first is to escape from the
love and guilt and responsibility he feels all at the same time toward
his mother and sister. The emotional burden is so great, he's almost
paralyzed.
Now Amanda pressures Tom to find a gentleman caller for Laura. When he
brings home a co-worker (James Naughton) from the shoe factory where he
works, all of their relationships are affected. The balance they have
maintained is upset, and nothing will ever be the same.
The performances in The Glass Menagerie are wonderful. Joanne Woodward
is especially wonderful. It's difficult to sympathize with the point of
view of a parent when your own experience is only that of being a son or
a daughter. But Woodward makes us understand how Amanda can love her
children and hurt them at the same time.
Paul Newman directed The Glass Menagerie. In 1968, he also directed
Woodward, his wife, in the movie Rachel, Rachel. At that time, Newman
was interviewed by talk-show host Dick Cavett. Cavett asked Newman
about the experience of working with Woodward. In a tone of respect and
admiration, Newman said simply, "The lady gets to me."
Along with the rest of the cast of The Glass Menagerie, she will get to
you, too.
Photo: Amanda (Joanne Woodward, right) has trouble finding the right
distance from her daughter, Laura (Karen Allen), in The Glass Menagerie.
Copyright © 1987 Scholastic Inc.