Axer – Mrozowska – Cywińska. About two Polish productions of Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie (on the 80th anniversary of the premiere of The Glass Menagerie on Broadway)

Abstract

The article deals with two Polish productions of Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie: a play directed by Erwin Axer, first shown at the Soldier's House Chamber Theater in Lodz in 1947, and a production created by Izabella Cywińska, which premiered in 1967 at the Contemporary Theater in Warsaw. Both productions featured the outstanding actress Zofia Mrozowska, who in Axer's production played the role of Laura, or daughter, and in Cywińska's she played Amanda, or mother. Although the roles are quite different (Laura is mostly silent, while Amanda doesn't stop talking), Mrozowska was very convincing and praised in both, both by professional critics and audiences. Axer, who – in search of new repertoire and new theatrical techniques – brought The Glass Menagerie to Polish stages in 1947, also had a hand in Cywińska's production. This is because it was staged while he was in charge of Warsaw's Contemporary Theater.