Broken Glass

This Arthur Miller play is a brave and interesting choice for an amateur society to attempt: brave in that it is one of his lesser known plays and therefore may not draw in an audience in the same way that many of his other works might; interesting because it covers some very knotty themes and throws many ideas up for discussion. In both cases, it shows just how committed Blackburn Arts Club is to the furtherance of solid, thoughtful and often challenging drama and is a testament to the exciting mix of productions which the society present for our delectation throughout their season. This unassuming hive of artistic endeavour tucked away in Gibraltar Street is a great asset to both the local community and the artistic life of the whole region and I urge those who have yet to sample its delights to beat a path to its door.

‘Broken Glass’ is a late work from one of the great figures of American theatre, Arthur Miller, which deals with a range of issues which stem from a troubled relationship taking in Jewish identity, responses to Nazi terror, marital resentment, hidden passions and a whole  host of different psychological themes underlying the human drama which unfolds on the surface. In this superb production, all of these tangled threads were unravelled in an involving evening of thoughtful drama, brought to life by uniformly excellent performances.

The play is set in New York in 1938 and centres on Sylvia Gellburg’s mysterious loss of use of her legs. Her husband Philip is a successful businessman who is nevertheless somewhat touchy and certainly uneasy in his own skin whereas Dr Hyman, the rather idiosyncratic doctor appointed to investigate Sheila’s problem, is a far more worldly and confident man. As the play unfolds, we are treated to an opening up of the lives of the characters on stage as a cure for Sylvia’s ailment is sought and the reason for her problem looked into. The way in which this production presented the piece for the audience’s enjoyment, never insisting upon a definite ‘answer’ or explanation, was one of its masterstrokes: this play needs to swish around in the minds of the audience and leave us to come to our own conclusions as we consider the broad sweep of the many themes and issues which the play offers up for contemplation. The title alone - ‘Broken Glass’ - conjures up a number of images:the year 1938 is the year of the Nazis’ Kristallnacht (‘Crystal night’ or the night of broken glass) when Jewish shops, synagogues and homes were vandalised and destroyed and is generally regarded as the first of the major pogroms in Germany; breaking a glass is also a part of the Jewish marriage ceremony and could also refer to the shattered lives and broken promises of the main players in the drama as lies are uncovered, disappointments raked over and complex sexual and psychological raw nerves are prodded. As a range of themes and ideas ebbed and flowed throughout the evening, it was the players on stage that really brought out the best from this complex and involving drama.

Robin Brown’s performance as Phillip Gellburg was quietly affecting and resulted in a fully rounded characterization. It would have been easy to present Philip in a wholly negative light, clearly uncomfortable at being thought of as the ‘stereotypical’ Jew, keen to paint himself as different from other Jews and to embrace the American Dream, casting off any allusions or responsibilities to his heritage and history: instead, I felt that we received a more nuanced performance which made the drama more effective and fulfilling as a result, as Philip was presented as a real and believable character rather than a mere cipher. Geoff Baron as Dr Hyman exuded a quiet confidence and similarly, left the audience to decide for themselves as to whether he was a force for good or whether his motives were slightly less than honourable and in a play of ideas such as this, such performances are vital in allowing the themes to develop naturally and give the audience the whole picture. Sylvia Gellburg was beautifully played by Zoe Tompkins, really expressing Sylvia’s anguish and every facet of this complex character with great skill and Margaret Hyman - perhaps the most sympathetic and level-headed character in the play - was superbly drawn by Lisa-Marie Hunt. The smaller roles of Harriet and Stanton Case received equally thoughtful interpretations by Sara Ashton and David Pilkington respectively, rounding off a uniformly excellent cast of players who breathed life into their roles and who excelled in bringing the drama to life.

The intimate setting of the Clubhouse theatre really helped to draw the audience in and make us feel a part of the challenging drama being played out before us. A lovingly crafted set which with sympathetic lighting and seamless scene changes (Tony Lewis and team on fine form here) served as the arena for the playing out of this emotionally charged drama, with interesting original music provided by Tom Haworth linking the scenes. While being resolutely ‘non-period’, the music did nevertheless convey atmosphere and was a welcome addition to the piece. Technically assured and with a first rate cast, director Geoff Baron is to be congratulated for presenting a thorough and stimulating evening of entertainment - and for mastering the acres of dialogue as Dr Hyman to boot!

This is a play which lends itself to debate and discussion, making an audience use the grey matter which so much of today’s entertainment encourages to wither and rot away to nothing through underuse. Would that I could use the opportunity provided with this show report to wax lyrical about the ideas and themes which are given an airing in ‘Broken Glass’ but for fear of turning a review into a dissertation, I shall curb my urges in this direction! This faultless production renewed the faith of a jaded reviewer in the possibilities of amateur theatre and the heights to which art can soar and carry the human spirit with it. A great cast all working at the top of their game resulted in an evening to remember. My thanks to all at Blackburn Arts Club for inviting me to this interesting and thought-provoking drama and for making me feel so very welcome. I look forward to the next production with interest and would urge as many people as possible to do the same.

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