Some critics believe that the visual and musical effects in 'The Glass Menagerie' are what make it such an effective play. Do you agree?

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The Glass Menagerie

Tennessee Williams

     

 

    “Legend: ‘Terror!” many people wouldn’t even know what a legend is let alone what this phrase means. In the play ‘The glass Menagerie” written by Tennessee William’s, legends which are short phrases or words, and images are projected on a special screen device that is specified for this certain play. This play has four main characters including Amanda, Tom, Laura and Jim who is also known as the gentlemen caller. The play is a memory play and includes a vast variety of visual and musical effects to create the feeling of memory as well as many other emotions and atmospheres. Even though some critics believe that the visual and musical effects used in ‘The Glass Menagerie’ are what make it such an effective play, some others believe that the play has a unique sense of effectiveness on its own. The musical and visual effects collaborate with it well, but the play can still be an interesting play by it self.

      Williams provides a lot of information for the director about the set, lighting, music and the unique screen device that is specified for the play. The set is unique and is thoroughly described in the stage directions on the first page of the play. “The Wingfield apartment is in the rear of the building…The apartment faces an alley and is entered by a fire escape.” The fire escape plays an important part in the play because it is how the characters enter onto stage, and it is also the line, which defines Tom playing his remembered character and Tom narrating the play. The stage directions also include that the set also has a down stage and an up stage, this is to help the director when he comes to position the characters. Up stage and down stage are divided by “ a wide arch…with transparent faded portiéres.” Through these you are able to see the kitchen. The stage directions become quite poetic when William’s describes the set “…that flower as warty growths in overcrowded urban centres.” Some of the set that is described is very precise such as the hanging picture “of a very handsome young man in a doughboy’s First World War cap,” it goes on to say “He is gallantly smiling…as if to say, ‘I will be smiling forever.” This gives detailed information on how the director should have the person in the picture smiling. This is the picture of Tom and Laura’s father. The cap also suggests the historical context because if their father has a cap from the “First World War,” it can’t have been that long since the First World War took place.

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       As the play is a memory play the lighting is usually quite dim to give an atmosphere. However in certain parts of the play the lighting becomes focused on certain characters. A clear example of this is during scene three, where Tom and Amanda are quarrelling about Tom’s job. Even though Laura does not say anything, some would argue that she is the most important character in the scene. This is due to the “clear pool of light on her figure,” she is also has “clenched hands and a panicky expression.” She is obviously worried about the ...

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