The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams at Circa Theatre, directed by Colin McColl attempts to tie the show in with the refreshed update of the building and perhaps the playwright's own life, fitting for an autobiographical play about memories.
The set and lighting designer, Tony Rabbit, specifically comments on the set harking back to a former Circa Theatre in the Ilott Building on Harris Street. He included "the ghost of the old theatre" within the new. The set was minimal, using only a small portion of the large stage area to create the cramped feeling of the location and family dynamics, with shadows stretching out to the empty back of the stage.
Hera Dunleavy who played the mother, Amanda, was the only performer who nailed the Southern accent, but this may be intentional to show that she's stuck in the past and traditional ways. She lent into the role of a mother merely doing her best, and only elements of her behaviour came across as abusive. It's a classic for a reason; parents today are still trying to impart knowledge to their children to ensure they're set for life, but at least most of them are hands-off about it.
There is a lightness in an otherwise heavy play when the siblings dance to "5 Foot 2". Newcomer Georgia-Mae Tozer and lead Simon Leary had great chemistry in this moment, it's necessary as they're often otherwise apart.
The "glass menagerie" of the title is not only the fragile family, and the daughter Laura, but the small glass animals Laura collects. In this production, they were tiny glass bottles, which may be commenting on the authors own drinking problems.
