Actor Kasper Hilton-Hille is currently touring in Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie, directed by Atri Banerjee. He tells us a bit about the production, what drew him to the role of Tom, and what he has coming up next.
Tell us a bit about The Glass Menagerie
The Glass Menagerie was written during and up to world war 2 by Tennessee Williams and became his first commercially successful play. It follows the Wingfield family in their small apartment in St louis during the Great Depression and is semi-autobiographical Memory play! When Amanda finds that her daughter has been bunking off college she decides that the only viable future for her daughter is to get her married to “Some nice young Man”. In return for her Son, Tom’s, freedom away from the apartment, he is tasked with finding a gentleman caller for Laura. He succeeds in this mission but the gentleman caller has a deeply profound impact on the family and shakes things up in a way no-one could have foreseen.
Who do you play?
I play the character of Tom who is Amanda’s son and Laura’s brother. He takes the form of the narrator and guides the audience through his memories of the events of the play as well as being a character in the action too.
What drew you to work on this production?
So many things! The writing is just beautiful and gives us actors so much to work from. It is poetic and real and heart wrenching and just perfect. I also think the character of Tom has a special place in my heart. I have auditioned to play this part on a couple of occasions before and fell in love with the role then, so to have the opportunity to be Tom for an audience is such a privilege. I feel deeply connected to Tennessee every time we
perform as those words are really from his own experience and it’s a unique opportunity to see the world through his eyes. It is also a very challenging play both emotionally and technically which is something I really relish!
The Glass Menagerie was written in the 1940s, what do you think the play has to offer modern audiences?
I think the play speaks to so many aspects of modern society just as clearly as it did in the 40s. I think the fundamental feeling of being trapped at home or in a job or situation that you’d much rather not be in is pretty universal especially during COVID for instance. Many people are living in Tom’s dilemma of having the opportunity to escape and follow a dream at the cost of leaving home and no longer providing for family or loved ones. Especially during this cost-of-living crisis; more and more young people are losing the opportunity to fulfil their full potential because it’s harder and harder to put food on the table. To see these human dilemmas play out in all their beauty and harshness is hopefully a fulfilling experience and I hope people will walk away feeling they have healed something or learned something about themselves.
What’s next for you?
Sleep and rest! Touring is great fun but it’s definitely hard work. I will also be at the Edinburgh Fringe performing in a comedy called Flicker at Pleasance by Gaby Foley throughout the month of August so that’s something to look forward to!
The Glass Menagerie comes to The Rose Theatre 17 April – 4 May, Bristol Old Vic 7-11 May, Theatre Royal Bath 13-18 May and Alexandra Palace London 22 May – 1 June.
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