The show, which runs through June 1, boasts strong direction and performances

Putting aside the fact for a moment that playwright Tennessee Williams was a master at capturing dysfunctional family dynamics, it is also important for us to remember why his plays are so gut-wrenchingly powerful.

He was not afraid to expose the deep longing for understanding and desperate desire to be loved that defines the human condition. His soulful, poignant, play “The Glass Menagerie,” (this reviewer’s favorite for its unabashed, southern contrivances) now playing at the Camelot Theatre in Talent, is one that should not be missed.

If you are a fan of the southern play genre depicting flawed but fascinating characters that leapt from the typewriters of such greats as Faulkner, O’Neil, Capote and Williams in the mid-20th century, you will appreciate this production for its honest portrayal of a family about to implode.

Director Zach Virden has approached the production of this play with a delicate, nuanced understanding that the disappointment and unfulfilled desires of a parent can sometimes have deleterious effects on the lives of their children.

It isn’t often you see four actors so expertly atuned to one another. Elizabeth Gudenrath turns in an incredibly strong, dynamic performance as Amanda Wingfield, a mother who is overwhelmed with anxiety, trying desperately to temper it with a strong dose of southern sensibility and a dump truck load of southern charm. In this case, Amanda Wingfield is not leading a life of “quiet desperation,” as the saying goes. Rather, she is scared, overtly crazed and anything but quiet.

Amanda’s husband, her source of support, has abandoned her and her two children. Now adults living with her, Amanda worries about her relationship with her son and daughter: “I make myself hateful to my children.”

She worries about their poverty: “What’s going to become of us?”

She has a distorted sense of the solution, “All we have to do is cling to each other,” the expression “cling” being the operative word here.

You begin to see the reasons for her daughter’s pathological shyness and her son’s desire to escape.

Marin Alexis plays Laura Wingfield, an introverted, achingly sad young woman, who has sacrificed her sense of self to appease a dominating mother. She hides in plain sight. She has a world of tiny glass figures in the living room that she escapes into. Then the young man she had a crush on in high school shows up. He is kind, loving and – soul crushing.

Alexis holds back just enough that we are able to really feel her character Laura’s despair. Not an easy task and one that deserves applause.

Braydon Simmons is in his element as Jim O’ Connor, the young man who suddenly appears back in Laura’s life. He demonstrates just the right amount ardor and reserve.

Ryder Kole Emerson plays Tom Wingfield, the play’s narrator, protagonist and conscious awareness, whose inner conflicts are evident. Emerson balances all three with meaningful insights, while expressing his desire to break away, which is in direct opposition to his mandate to take care of his family.

It was difficult to discern a number of key lines Emerson was responsible for. The sound in the auditorium seemed spread out. His pronunciation needing more amplification and refining.

Director Virden’s set design has a ghost-like, shadowy allure. The 30’s costumes by Andrew Beyer clearly reflect the personalities of the people wearing them. Laura Wingfield’s party dress is stunning. The lighting by Kate Landon illuminates Tom Wingfield’s narration at key moments.

A strong theme in this allegory is the dysfunction that gets passed down from one generation to another. How a person decides to extricate themselves from that dysfunction can often define how one’s life will go.

But you should just go see it.

Performances of “The Glass Menagerie” at Camelot Theatre, 101 Talent Ave., Talent, are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays, through June 1. 

Tickets are $38. This production is part of Camelot’s American Masters Drama series.

Tickets and information available at camelottheatre.org or 541-535-5250. Group and discounted season packages, as well as special rate performances, are available. The Box Office is open three hours before performances, or by appointment.

Reach Ashland-based writer Lucie K. Scheuer at LucieScheuer19@gmail.com.

This story first appeared at Ashland.news.