0°C | Tuesday April 29, 2025 
20 March 2025
By James Mullan
Ensemble Theatre is set to captivate audiences with its new production of Tennessee Williams’ classic play, The Glass Menagerie. Originally premiering in 1944, the play is a “memory play,” as described by its narrator, Tom Wingfield, and is largely autobiographical for Williams.
The story follows the Wingfield family: Tom (Danny Ball), his mother Amanda (Blazey Best), and his sister Laura (Bridie McKim), who lives with a disability and severe anxiety. Struggling with mounting bills and an uncertain future, the Wingfields are stuck in a stifling existence—until the arrival of Jim offers a glimmer of change.
Actor Tom Rodgers plays Jim O’Connor, once a popular high school student with a promising future, now working at the same warehouse as Tom. Though his dreams have not materialised as he had hoped, Jim remains optimistic, focusing on self-improvement and, as the story unfolds, Laura.
Rodgers sat down with The Sun to share insights into the production.
From his first audition, Rodgers felt an immediate connection with the cast and director Liesel Badorrek. “She’s so warm and has the best energy to have in a room like that when you’re already nervous and on edge,” he said. “She’s the perfect person to settle you and bring out your best.”
One of the first challenges for the cast was mastering the specific American accents. They worked with dialect coach Linda Nicholls-Gidley to perfect the Southern inflections.
Rodgers noted that Jim’s accent stands apart, incorporating elements of St. Louis and Minnesotan speech to distinguish him from the Wingfield family.
“It’s set in 1937, so there’s a lot of that energy,” he explained. “There’s also the context of the Great Depression and the gender roles of the time. What did masculinity mean then? What was it like for men going to the warehouse? Capturing that energy in the voice was another layer in developing the character.”
Reflecting on Jim, Rodgers saw personal similarities. “Jim is an intense dreamer, deeply focused on the future and what he can achieve,” he said. “He has this vibrant inner drive… I think we’re both very passionate people.”
This production marks Rodgers’ Ensemble Theatre debut and his first professional stage role.
Asked what audiences can expect, he promised “heightened Southern drama with incredible performances,” particularly from Blazey Best as Amanda Wingfield. He also praised Badorrek’s unique vision, saying the story will resonate with anyone who has experienced regret, nostalgia, or unfulfilled dreams.
While The Glass Menagerie is known for its dramatic and heartbreaking moments, Rodgers emphasised its humor as well. “It captures the ups and downs of family relationships—the warmth, the fun, and the heartbreak that comes with them.”
The production runs from 21 March to 26 April 2025. Tickets and more information are available at www.ensemble.com.au.