Katharine Hepburn’s haunting performance as Amanda Wingfield
Tennessee Williams has crafted many stories that subtly present real and raw stories that will make you question, challenge you or make you watch someone’s delusion unravel in front of your eyes.
The Glass Menagerie on BroadwayHD is such good a production. You are introduced to the delusional world of three characters. Amanda, the mother, who dreams of the past where gentleman callers would visit on a regular basis. Tom, long suffering son, who dreams of escaping the crazy world he shares with his mother and sister, he is longing to be himself. Laura, the younger sister, who has a slight disability that she is continually reminded about by her controlling mother, she continually loses herself in a make believe world of glass animals.
Amanda, Tom and Laura all live in a small apartment, scraping together a meager living and dreaming of a better world. All escape using their imagination as they are not happy with the world that is presented in front of them. This is a running theme of Tennessee Williams’ work. Delusion on her verge of manic.
Originally filmed for television in 1973, this version of the famed Tennessee Williams stage play was directed by Anthony Harvey.
This is Katharine Hepburn’s first appearance on television as she had to be coaxed into playing the role of Amanda Wingfield as she didn’t believe in acting on the medium. She was eventually convinced by Anthony Harvey, with whom she had previously worked on the Oscar winning film The Lion in Winter.
The Glass Menagerie is currently available on BroadwayHD and has an incredible cast including Hepburn as Amanda Wingfield, Sam Waterston as Tom Wingfield and Joanna Miles as Laura Wingfield.
Katharine Hepburn you should recognize from such Hollywood classics as Bring Up Baby, The Philadelphia Story, Adam’s Rib and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. Being able to watch her renowned performance on BroadwayHD is a real treat. It was a nice surprise and Katharine Hepburn as Amanda is mesmerizing. She is almost unrecognizable in the role. She embraces the level of delusion that Amanda exudes and takes it to a whole new level.
Sam Waterston you should recognize from Netflix’s current hit Grace and Frankie as Sol Bergstein, the long suffering ex husband of Frankie Bergstein.
Sam as Tom Wingfield encompasses the sadness that surrounds the character of Tom. There is a sense of suffering, pain and exhaustion about Tom. Sam’s characterization presents this loneliness and longing to escape from the current reality.
Joanna Miles as Laura Wingfield is haunting. The character of Laura is that of someone longing to live up to her mother’s expectations but has little to no self value or worth and escapes to her glass menagerie of animals as comfort. Joanna has captured the sense of a lost soul floating through life not knowing what to do.
BroadwayHD has an incredible catalogue of memorable and historical stage productions. During this time when Broadway is closed it is a great way to catch up and keep your appetite whet with great performances that otherwise would be lost to history.
The Glass Menagerie is currently available for streaming on BroadwayHD.
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