Spring 2005 The Glass Menagerie

The Company will be presenting
The Glass Menagerie
by Tennessee Williams
on
Thursday 31st March
Friday 1st April
Saturday 2nd April 2005
at 7.30pm
in The Old Hall, Pound Arts Centre, Corsham
(note to our regulars: the scale of this production and the anticipated popularity mean that we will be forsaking the 'cosy' atmosphere of the Bikeshed Theatre for this production)

Tickets £6.00 - will be available from Pound Box Office (or e-mail by pressing on the "Mail Form" link on the lower-left of the screen)

A Note from the Director.
The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams' first great popular success and an autobiographical play about his mother and sister, launched the brilliant and controversial career of this ground-breaking American playwright. Set in St Louis during the depression era of the 1930s, it is the poignant drama of a family's gradual disintegration, under pressure both from outside and within. A frustrated mother persuades her rebellious son to provide a 'gentleman caller' for her shy, crippled daughter, but her romantic dreams are shattered by the intervention of harsh reality.

I have been lucky enough to be able to cast four excellent actors for this production, three of whom are new to Pickwick Theatre Company (PTC). Kara Kauppinen (Laura) and Blake Compton (Tom), I recruited from the Performing Arts course at Chippenham College, and I believe that they are young talents to watch for the future. The other newcomer to PTC,Ollie Hounsell (Jim), is currently singing with CLOGS, the Chippenham Light Opera Group, but he did a superb audition read for us and seems to be as delighted to be involved with The Glass Menagerie, as we are to have him on board. Again, a young talent to look out for.

Jenny Lane plays Amanda, mother to Laura and Tom, and will be well known to PTC regulars - (remember the BBC executive in the Killing Of Sister George, or the housekeeper in The Deep Blue Sea?). Jenny is an actress of exceptional ability and great experience and is relishing this very demanding role, in a part she has yearned after ever since seeing the play on stage in her youth.

As we start our first rehearsals, I am very excited about this production, it's players and it's potential, and I would urge you to order your tickets as soon as possible, for this will be a production not to be missed.

Charles Garrett - Director. 11th January 2005.