DATE: Thursday, March 6, 1997               TAG: 9703060368

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B6   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

TYPE: THEATER PREVIEW 

SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: MANTEO                            LENGTH:   54 lines

THEATRE PRESENTS A CLASSIC FROM TENNESSEE, ``GLASS MENAGERIE''

The Wingfield family is the essence of dysfunctionalism, a product of the imagination of Tennessee Williams. Well, not all imagination. His parents inspired some of the story.

The story is very well told at the Theatre of Dare, thanks to tight direction by James Gibbs, and solid performances by the four-person cast.

Laura is the center of attention, although she would prefer not to be. She is shy, withdrawn, quiet, a frightened mouse; she is unmarried, crippled, jobless.

Meghan Mulhearn, a high school student, captures her perfectly, offering an impressive, intelligent performance.

Laura's mother, Amanda, is completely the opposite - loud, domineering, talking ceaselessly; mentally living in the world of her gracious well-to-do past; physically living in a small St. Louis apartment.

The part is difficult because mom speaks so fast and is on stage during most of the play.

If her speech should slow down, she would be out of character.

None of that deters Stephanie Spence, who is 100 percent convincing and, to her credit, almost 100 percent aggravating as she constantly harasses her daughter about her personality and, most annoying to mom, Laura's single status.

For a spell, it looks as if that might change. Amanda's son, Tom, nicely played by Chris Suttle, brings home a gentleman friend, a hotshot high school buddy.

Mark Baker is well cast as Jim O'Connor - tall, dark, handsome, easygoing.

Mom, of course, makes a fuss over him, dresses lavishly in his honor, talks like a bubblehead.

Jim likes Laura, brings her out of her shell for a spell. She adores him - but, there is a catch.

You should catch this production.

The acting leaves nothing to be desired, the set - two rooms and a balcony - works beautifully.

``The Glass Menagerie'' is a tour-de-force for the performers. The Theatre of Dare group makes the most of it.

The play is Tennessee Williams at his best - moving swiftly as it introduces us to fascinating characters and out-of-hand situations.

In his director's notes, Gibbs, as others have done, describes it as ``a classic of the American stage,'' standing the test of time, ``by striking a responsive chord in people no matter what era they live in.''

He refers to the characters as ``exaggerated'' - but, you wonder. ILLUSTRATION: WHAT: ``Night of January 16th,'' presented by The

Encore Theatre Company.

WHEN: 8 p.m. March 6-8.

WHERE: Main Street Stage, Pasquotank Arts Council Building,

Elizabeth City.

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