The Glass Menagerie w/Amy Adams - Duke of Yorks

[Being Alive]

Very underwhelmed by this I'll be honest.

Amy Adams is obviously good, but to me never truly for into her stride apart from a few moments into Act 2. It's a good role for a star actress, hence why lots of interesting people have done it. She didn't feel too young for me /, just a bit underpowered.
Tom Glynn-Carney is pretty hopeless as Tom in the actual play but it felt to me like everyone had been directed to do it all at 80% - he just leaves no mark at all, especially in the final scene.
Lizzie Annis is good, but again I wanted her to really deliver at the end and it falls short.

Whilst the framing device of Tom later in life looking back on the story and narrating it in theory is fine, it's really unnecessary. Thankfully Paul Hilton is good otherwise it's have become really tiresome really quickly.

It just felt like everyone got told to not give it their full effort, and thus the whole thing just feels very flat and uninteresting. I think we've only had two good productions of Tennessee Williams in recent memory (Almeidas Summer and Smoke, and YV Streetcar), otherwise British directors just don't seem to understand how to stage Williams. Glass Menagerie is a great play, but you'd kinda never know it with what's on offer at the Duke of Yorks right now.

[fizzym]

I saw this last night. It was the second production in a week (the first being My Fair Lady) where the production looked lost on the size of the stage. As a result - and true in both cases - it lacked the emotional connection you’d hope for…

[adolphus]

It was alright, apart from the staging which didnt, as someone mentioned, convey the cramped ,impoverished conditions that the characters dream themselves out of. I'm an admirer of Amy Adams' film and tv work, and was expecting a great performance. She was fine, just not a patch on the previous two Amandas I've seen, Deborah Findlay and especially Cherry Jones.

[jm25]

Saw this earlier this evening - though it was touch and go at one point with the Tube strike!

Came at this with perhaps a slightly unusual perspective in that I wasn’t familiar with the play at all. Obviously I’d heard of it but had no clue what it was really about and hadn’t seen any previous productions. Therefore had a completely open mind going in and would say I was neither underwhelmed or overwhelmed. Enjoyed it but it was just ‘fine’. Nothing spectacular or particularly memorable.

Booked this to see Amy Adams as I really enjoy her film work. Like the production itself, I’d say she gives a solid performance but nothing more. As others have said, it’s probably certain moments in Act 2 (particularly towards the beginning) where she’s at her best. I might be in the minority but I thought young Tom much better than old Tom. Laura was fine and I was quite impressed with Jim. Can only really echo what others have said about the staging in that the action itself never really feels particularly engaged with the setting.

Three stars all round for me. (A personal highlight was when the girl behind me excitedly exclaimed that Amy Adams is married to Sacha Baron Cohen.)

[lonlad]

> A personal highlight was when the girl behind me excitedly exclaimed that Amy Adams is married to Sacha Baron Cohen

Did you resist the temptation to correct her??

[jm25]

Jun 7, 2022 0:09:04 GMT lonlad said:

> A personal highlight was when the girl behind me excitedly exclaimed that Amy Adams is married to Sacha Baron Cohen

Did you resist the temptation to correct her??

Didn’t want to shatter the illusion!

[mrbarnaby]

A strange question, but does the glass ornament display get changed over during the play? I’ve seen photos of it looking different

[Rory]

Jun 15, 2022 5:58:49 GMT mrbarnaby said:

A strange question, but does the glass ornament display get changed over during the play? I’ve seen photos of it looking different

I saw it last week and the display in the publicity photos is different from the one used in the production. I actually quite liked this, having gone in with slightly lowered expectations after some of the reviews, and thought that Amy Adams was great. The only bit I couldn't quite square was how Tom Glynn-Carney would ever physically morph into Paul Hilton! But there's lots to like.

[cavocado]

Jun 15, 2022 5:58:49 GMT mrbarnaby said:

A strange question, but does the glass ornament display get changed over during the play? I’ve seen photos of it looking different

It's the same case throughout the play but it moves during the interval. Most of the play is on a black platform in the middle of the stage, with the display case at the back right and a table at the front left of the platform. During the interval the table and case swap places as though the stage has revolved and we're looking at the back of the room. 

[theatrebee]

I watched it this afternoon and it was a pleasant performance, but nothing to write home about. I’m not sure if it’s the play itself or this particular rendition of it, but it didn’t seem to me to be a “memory” play (I knew nothing about the play going in) - the unfolding of events was clear as day and didn’t seem like murky, fuzzy remnants of a memory from a long time ago. I’m not sure why they needed two Toms either, but if absolutely necessary to have two, I wish they’d put in an iota of effort to make either one look even remotely like the other (not to say the actors weren’t good). In all, I was underwhelmed.

[mrbarnaby]

Very disappointed in this. Amy Adam’s just doesn’t give a big enough performance and the whole production is horribly conceived. A real shame for AA. I wish she’d done something at the Donmar- a new play or something. She was horribly exposed in this, and she’s such a wonderful actress (on screen)

[callum]

She should have done Streetcar.

[mrbarnaby]

Jun 18, 2022 22:45:50 GMT callum said:

She should have done Streetcar.

If she can’t handle Amanda, she sure as hell isn’t ready for Blanche.
That role requires a real stage actress.

[theoracle]

Whilst this didn't blow me away, I can't say I walked away disappointed as such. I think Amy Adams gives a fine performance albeit not a great one, especially when compared to some other starry casting we've seen lately. I don't think the splitting of Tom's character really added much to the show nor do I think Vicki Mortimer's design to be particularly effective. I was really excited about Jeremy Herrin's direction after hearing good things but it all just felt a little flat. By no means do I think this was bad - as others mentioned, Lizzie Annis is brilliant in her scenes particularly in the second act and Amy Adams still has enough presence to grip the audience. It's great to see Tennessee Williams' work invite such a large audience too but I do worry this isn't going to create further interest as I don't think we really saw the full potential of all involved.

[talkstageytome]

Reading over this thread while trying to decide whether or not to book a ticket. TGM is my favourite Tennessee Williams play, and the John Tiffany production we had in London a few years ago is still one of my favourite things I've ever seen, which imo really captured the memory play vibe and emotion. I seem to remember that it was filmed for archival purposes, but no idea if it can actually be viewed anywhere now.

Interesting decision to use separate actors for Tom in this production, can anyone (in spoilers) go into a bit more detail about how they do it?

[jaggy]

Jun 20, 2022 11:26:00 GMT talkstageytome said:

Reading over this thread while trying to decide whether or not to book a ticket. TGM is my favourite Tennessee Williams play, and the John Tiffany production we had in London a few years ago is still one of my favourite things I've ever seen, which imo really captured the memory play vibe and emotion. I seem to remember that it was filmed for archival purposes, but no idea if it can actually be viewed anywhere now.

Interesting decision to use separate actors for Tom in this production, can anyone (in spoilers) go into a bit more detail about how they do it?

It was archived by the V&A. The theatre archives are currently unavailable to the public until 2024 when the V&A archives reopen at a new location. Real shame. I’m desperate to see it.

This production has the older actor playing Tom during the times the character breaks the fourth wall. The younger actor plays Tom during the scenes set in the past. They also have the older actor playing Tom linger around the stage, interacting with the other characters and reacting to what is going on.

[couldileaveyou]

Jun 20, 2022 11:26:00 GMT talkstageytome said:

Interesting decision to use separate actors for Tom in this production, can anyone (in spoilers) go into a bit more detail about how they do it?

There isn't much to say tbh, there is the older Tom (Hilton) pacing around the stage and commenting like a reminiscening narrator while the younger Tom (Glynn-Carney) lives in the memory and interacts with the other characters. An audience that is not familiar with TGM wouldn't even notice that this is not how the play is usually done and it doesn't detract from the text as much as I feared it would. It also doesn't add anything.

I saw it ten days ago from the front row and liked Amy Adams quite a bit, but I agree with what others have said, her  performance is just too small for a West End theatre. If she had done it at the Donmar it would be much more succesfull and I'm sure she'd come actross very well if they National-Theatre-Lived it. Great actress, wrong medium.

The staging is meh and Hilton was a bit embarassing. Considering that he's in a memory play he's extremely literal (eg, he says "Superman" and he makes a superman pose, he mentions a lightning and mimes a lightning hitting the stage). I don't know what went wrong, he could have just recycled his performance from The Inheritance.

John Tiffany's production was superior in every single way.

[inthenose]

Jun 20, 2022 11:59:55 GMT couldileaveyou said:

Jun 20, 2022 11:26:00 GMT talkstageytome said:

Interesting decision to use separate actors for Tom in this production, can anyone (in spoilers) go into a bit more detail about how they do it?

There isn't much to say tbh, there is the older Tom (Hilton) pacing around the stage and commenting like a reminiscening narrator while the younger Tom (Glynn-Carney) lives in the memory and interacts with the other characters. An audience that is not familiar with TGM wouldn't even notice that this is not how the play is usually done and it doesn't detract from the text as much as I feared it would. It also doesn't add anything.

I saw it ten days ago from the front row and liked Amy Adams quite a bit, but I agree with what others have said, her  performance is just too small for a West End theatre. If she had done it at the Donmar it would be much more succesfull and I'm sure she'd come actross very well if they National-Theatre-Lived it. Great actress, wrong medium.

The staging is meh and Hilton was a bit embarassing. Considering that he's in a memory play he's extremely literal (eg, he says "Superman" and he makes a superman pose, he mentions a lightning and mimes a lightning hitting the stage). I don't know what went wrong, he could have just recycled his performance from The Inheritance.

John Tiffany's production was superior in every single way.

That sounds rather like Jude Law's Hamlet (dir. Grandage) by the Donmar some years back.

Polonius (I think? I'm not too hot on Shakespeare!) says something like "if like a crab you could walk backward" - I remember Law literally scuttling at one point. Sadly, no bright red costume with claws made an appearance.

Miming out a metaphor or simile in literal terms surely destroys the very purpose of the bloody thing

I was offered a very cheap ticket for this, but had to pass. I didn't enjoy it too much with Cherry Jones a few years back either - I just find the play a bit underwhelming and slight.

[Mark]

Went in with fairly low expectations after reading the reviews on here but came out pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed it as much as last time, and in particular I thought act two was much stronger.

[vdcni]

Yeah I enjoyed it all in all. Thought Adams was good.

The main issue was the production. The older Tom just wasn't needed and I felt more distanced from the play as a result and I thought it weakened the role of Tom. Paul Hilton was left hanging around being a distraction.

The set was horrific, one of the worst I've ever seen.

[joem]

It was all right, made the play feel quite lightweight somehow. The two Toms conceit is unnecessary.

Much of the action seems to happen stage right so if you're in a box or side seat on the left you will have a restricted view for much of the play. And some of the spotlights, especially the huge one on the stage, cast a very off-putting light on the side of your vision. I didn't think the set looked bad, although it was rather cluttered, but the use of space was rather poor I thought with all the action concentrated on two or three smallish areas of the stage.

Haven't checked what theatre pedigree Amy Adams may have but she certainly put in a professional and quite impressive performance.

[sph]

For a well known play with a big star name I forgot this was even on! I haven't seen any advertising and I travel into central London daily. I haven't even heard any major buzz about it. It must just be ticking over nicely on its own.

[greenswan]

Watched this last night - lured by the aircon. Continues my recent run of mildly disappointing shows. Can recommend seats in the Royal Circle though (via rush).

Stage design is terrible - it feels like they put random clutter on the edges because they didn't know how to fill the space. Nothing is done with it thematically re the poverty. Videos are completely pointless.

Acting was ok - haven't seen Amy Adams in much, wouldn't go back to see her on stage. The first 20 minutes or so are especially quiet.

Didn't evoke any particular feeling re being a memory play, and weirdly, didn't transport any impression of heat or claustrophobia as would be expected. Rather than building to some inevitable climax it was all a bit of a damp squib.

[tal]

Jul 20, 2022 7:42:08 GMT greenswan said:

Watched this last night - lured by the aircon. Continues my recent run of mildly disappointing shows. Can recommend seats in the Royal Circle though (via rush).

Stage design is terrible - it feels like they put random clutter on the edges because they didn't know how to fill the space. Nothing is done with it thematically re the poverty. Videos are completely pointless.

Acting was ok - haven't seen Amy Adams in much, wouldn't go back to see her on stage. The first 20 minutes or so are especially quiet.

Didn't evoke any particular feeling re being a memory play, and weirdly, didn't transport any impression of heat or claustrophobia as would be expected. Rather than building to some inevitable climax it was all a bit of a damp squib.

Do you know how difficult the rush for this has been on TodayTix? I’m gonna try it next week.

[Mark]

Jul 28, 2022 13:06:13 GMT tal said:

Jul 20, 2022 7:42:08 GMT greenswan said:

When I went last month, I didn't get one in my basket initially, but it seems there was a second release around half an hour later and I got one midway back in the stalls.