Academy staged a cast of powerful performances of Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie on January 21-23 in our Schoedinger Theatre, directed by Scott Dillon, who cast the show with understudies to account for any delays-per the pandemic.
Thursday’s understudies of juniors Rosie Gruber, Raaghuv Vazirani, Ryan Reagan, and sophomore Kate Fornshell complemented Friday and Saturday’s performances enacted by senior Sejal Jindal, juniors Madeleine Kazatsky and Ryan Reagan (performed in both casts), and sophomore Colin Harrison.
Jindal depicted Amanda Wingfield, an overbearing mother, desperate for her disabled daughter to find love. Kazatsky played Laura Wingfield, who tuggedthe audience’s heartstrings as Amanda’s woeful daughter.
Reagan, the energetic gentleman caller, Jim O’Connor, provided a contrast to the shows melancholic music and the show’s simple staging.
Sophomore Vaanika Jindal and junior Reyha Satish served as Student Assistant Directors while Donna Williamson’s costuming captured the time period.
Harrison, who played Tom Wingfield, served as the narrator for the play as well as a character. He masterfully portrays a man torn between his loyalty to his family and his desire to follow his dreams.
Reagan inserted a jolt of energy into his performance as the gentleman caller, Jim O’Connor, who enters in the final scenes. He provides contrast to the melancholy music, lighting and simple staging of the show.
Sophomore Vaanika Jindal and junior Reyha Satish served as Student Assistant Directors while Donna Williamson’s costuming captured the time period.
