The Theater 1945:Tennessee Williams GLASS MENAGERIE

The Glass Menagerie (by Tennessee Williams; produced by Eddie Dowling & Louis J. Singer) arrived on Broadway to receive a loud welcome from Manhattan critics. As a play, The Glass Menagerie has its faults and needless frills. As a piece of theater, however, it is appealing and unusual, clothing an uneventful family history in plenty of stage color. And in the role of the mother, Laurette Taylor gives the most fascinating and memorable performance of the season.

The Glass Menagerie never overworks its material, astutely unfolds most of its human little story in revealing little scenes. It is the more touching, too, for not being cheaply sentimental. It portrays unfortunate young people who are also, quite plainly, fiberless; it balances what is pathetic in the mother’s situation with what is comic in her character.