John Brown University (JBU) has once again showcased its prowess in the performing arts with its recent production of Tennessee Williams’ classic, “The Glass Menagerie.”
Under the direction of JBU associate professor and director Josiah Wallace, the theater department has put together what violinist Mary Patterson has described as a “modern take” on the classic play, with innovative lighting and sound effects being put together by the AVL team to emphasize the show’s central messages. This way, JBU has put on a show that has captivated audiences while maintaining Williams’ tale of familial dynamics and broken dreams.
JBU’s rendition gains particular uniqueness when evaluating the show’s music, which was composed by Seth Malone, a junior integrated music major. Although the play doesn’t originally have music to accompany it, Malone carefully analyzed the script to create pieces that reflected the themes of the play.
“I read through the script a few times, and I kind of was walking around just thinking about the themes and about the characters and their interactions. I would sit down with the piano, and it would kind of just come from there,” Malone said.
Viola player Emma Jit recognized the amount of effort Malone put into the construction of the pieces.
“He would analyze the personalities or motivations of the characters and create songs that would match them, naming the songs after them and choosing specific instruments to match the mood of the scene. Everything is very meaningful and really carefully thought out,” Jit said.
The play’s musical team is made up of Jit and Patterson, as well as piano player Olivia Choate and musical director Connor Arterberry, who is in charge of giving the cues to the rest of the musicians as well as playing a Nord keyboard, strings, celesta and accordion. Together, they bring musical life to the somber and melancholic tone of the play.
While the musical team sets the emotional backdrop of the play, it is the actors who breathe life into their characters, weaving a captivating narrative that resonates with audiences. The cast of JBU students features Gabe Thomas as Tom, Mayson Montgomery as Amanda, Ella Fletcher as Laura, and Nick Loper as Jim, with Mariama Finch and Benjamin Fulks serving as understudies. Since the characters in the play are so complex, not only was it a challenge for the actors, but this also allowed the audience to see themselves on stage.
“I think with all the characters in this play, there’s a little bit of each one of them in everybody, which is a scary thing. In a way, it’s sort of a cautionary tale,” Loper said.
Wallace shared insights into the nuanced portrayal of characters in the play.
“Lots of plays have characters that are intentionally created for you to know how you should feel about them. In this play you don’t really want to root for or against any of the characters, ultimately. They’re more human, in that way,” Wallace said.
JBU’s production of “The Glass Menagerie” will offer three additional shows on Feb. 15 – 17 at the Berry Performing Arts Center. Tickets are available for purchase at jbu.universitytickets.com. JBU students can buy tickets for $3, while the general public can buy them for $15.