GSCC Theater Department to present 'Glass Menagerie'

Greg Bailey

The Gadsden State Community College Theater Department's production of Tennessee Williams' classic drama “The Glass Menagerie” debuts Thursday at the Wallace Hall Fine Arts Center.

Performances are set for 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, according to a news release from the college, and there will be a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday.

The semi-autobiographical work, which had its roots in an earlier short story and a screenplay by Williams, debuted in 1944, and pushed the Mississippi native into national prominence. It moved to Broadway in 1945 and was honored as the year's best American play by the New York Drama Critics.

Madison Farrow and Jacob Rhinehart portray Amanda Wingfield and her son, Tom, in the Gadsden State Community College Theater Department's production of Tennessee Williams' "The Glass Menagerie" set for Thursday through Sunday at the Wallace Hall Fine Arts Center.
Madison Farrow and Jacob Rhinehart portray Amanda Wingfield and her son, Tom, in the Gadsden State Community College Theater Department's production of Tennessee Williams' "The Glass Menagerie" set for Thursday through Sunday at the Wallace Hall Fine Arts Center.

“The Glass Menagerie” is set in St. Louis during the Great Depression, and tells the story of Amanda Wingfield, a Southern belle trying to support her family; her son, Tom, who is looking to escape; and her disabled daughter, Laura, who is shy and fragile, yet compassionate. Complicating matters is the arrival of Jim, a potential suitor for Laura.

“One cannot help but feel the desperation of the Wingfield family from the opening monologue to the final tableau,” said director Joe Fuselli, a GSCC theater instructor. “For me, each character represents a period of struggle one may face in life.”

Fuselli in the release cited the depth and the richness of Williams’ script, which he's following as written.

“Williams wanted a play of memory,” he said. “He had a vision of something almost otherworldly. I have tried my best to stay true to this vision. The story has transcended time. Why change it?”

Two casts were selected for the play. Madison Farrow and Lilly Barber will be seen as Amanda; Jake Rhinehart and Jonas Abernathy as Tom; Azya Elrod and Buffy Bailey as Laura; and Kadin Gardner and Ryan Kelley as Jim.

Tickets are $10 for students and seniors, $12 for adults, and are available at www.GadsdenState.edu/FineArts or at the door.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: How to see 'The Glass Menagerie' at Gadsden State Community College

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