The Glass Menagerie, the Classics, the Plays

am halfway through the summer already--though it seems like it ended a few weeks ago since it practically rains now EVERYDAY...it turns out my summer readings are taking a different route. i've veered away from opening proust...and found myself reading more "drama" as in plays.

My taste for the dramatic form has only developed now. It started when we were required to read Filipino plays in English and the vernacular last sem. It has a different cadence I guess from reading straight out prose and what makes it more enjoyable for me is the bite size dose. Most plays could be read in one sitting, so its perfect for those lazy afternoons or coffee shop weekends. So I'm kinda sad na I've only started reading them this late in the game.

And from at least the less than a dozen plays I've read so far I can say na I'm interested to read more, and syempre to see some performed.

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And let's not get started with Greek Drama. Cause I've only read Sophocles' "Oedipus Rex" recently--and I was just floored (it was pure genius). I have always seen the Classics as a very aloof terrain in Literature mainly because I've never received a rigourous classical training (you know I didn't grew up being tutored in Latin and shit) as a student besides Edith Hamilton. But I must say, now I understand what's the fuss with them ancient Greeks and Romans. Especially in the aspect of literary theory, man, I feel like were all just repeating what's been said before Christ arrived. From Aristotle's "Poetics", Horace's "Ars Poetica" to Longinus' "On the Sublime" --which I've read excerpts from my "bible" you'll literary notice the déjà vu...with all this literary "common knowledge" your english teachers fed you.
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After sampling Greek tragedy and my first Brecht, it was american expressionist theater for me next: The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams. I must mention that the brief reference to "Menagerie" in the film "Dying Young" (yep, the one with julia roberts--San Francisco looked really good in that movie) helped wet my appetite for it. Cause I'm familiar with Williams' a "Street Car Named Desire" though it always seemed too "Americana" for me? But I'll give it a try, i'll try.

I want to see the "Glass Menagerie" performed since the directorial details in the script look really interesting...Williams' goes so far as to stress that it is a "memory" play--so the stage is dimly lit with a lotta screens and stuff--heavy mood lighting--interesting. And the symbolism!

Laura's collection of miniature glass animals...
the fire escape...

And I could really relate to Tom Wingfield: always a plus in any piece you read. His shit ass job at a warehouse, his retreat to the movies as escape, his reserve to rise above it all--even if it means leaving his family...shit, ako ata si Tom eh.

William's describes how the play is simply like glass: beautiful yet oh so fragile.

Panalo.