Monday, July 19, 2010
History connects NHT's production of "The Glass Menagerie" to original Tennessee Williams production in 1944
Marnye Young as Laura and Marcus Potter as Jim, a gentleman caller, in "The Glass Menagerie."
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Sarah Harlan Administrative Associate News & Information Services 812/465-7005 In 1944, before the New York premiere of "The Glass Menagerie," playwright Tennessee Williams stopped in a small glassblowing shop owned by John Cudequest to inquire about props for his upcoming production. When asked about the use of his tiny, glass animals in the play, Cudequest initially objected to the idea. After some convincing from Williams, Cudequest created the figurines for all 561 New York performances. The play catapulted Williams to fame, and he would go on to write other noteworthy scripts including "A Streetcar Named Desire" and "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." Cudequest left New York in the 1960s, moving to Santa Claus, Indiana where he opened a glass shop. He later moved to Florida where he operated a popular glass-making business, becoming a frequent guest on the "Captain Kangaroo" show. Kathy Warner, the daughter of Cudequest, has followed in her father's footsteps, creating the delicate figurines for "The Glass Menagerie," one of the summer productions at New Harmony Theatre. Warner learned the art of glassblowing from her father when she was a small girl. She's been a glassmaker for nearly 50 years and has fashioned the petite figurines for several productions of "The Glass Menagerie" including performances in Kentucky, Vermont, and Florida. Along with her husband, Warner has owned and operated The Glassblowing Shop in the Christmas section at Holiday World for 37 years. The Warners also own a glassblowing shop in Lake Placid, New York, and their sons own glassblowing shops in Georgia. The cast and crew from New Harmony Theatre were unaware of the history before making the trip to The Glassblowing Shop. When Warner learned that the pieces were going to be used as props for the play she told them of her father and Williams' relationship. She remembers her father describing his first encounter with Williams, calling him a 'heckuva nice guy.' When Young learned the history behind the miniature animals she was overwhelmed. "I welled up I was so excited. These are beautiful pieces, and the history behind them is astonishing-they are linked to the first production. It's such a gift to be given a prop that is so fragile and loaded with history." Young's character, Laura, is a painfully shy, crippled woman with a domineering mother who is desperate to find Laura a husband. Laura's only refuge is her collection of tiny, fragile, glass figurines. Young noted how connected she has become to the small animals. "During rehearsal one got knocked off a table. I nearly had a heart attack, me Marnye, not Laura. It's amazing how much one can invest in something." "These tiny, tiny, animals are nearly magical," Young said. "The attention to detail alone is exquisite. The way the light shines through them, they're such an unexpected gift." This upcoming weekend is your last chance to see "The Glass Menagerie" performed at Murphy Auditorium at 419 Tavern Street in New Harmony. Tickets are $22 for adults, $20 for seniors (60 and over), and $10 for anyone 25 or younger. Show time is 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 22, Friday, July 23 and Saturday, July 24. The final performance will be at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 25. For information or to purchase tickets, contact the box office at 812/682-3115 or toll free at 1-877-NHT-SHOW (648-7469), or visit the theatre's web site at www.newharmonytheatre.com. |
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