Actors overpower ‘Menagerie’

The perfect time to explore theaters outside of Bangor is after the summer traffic dies down on Route 1 and before the winter storms ice it over. In other words, September is a good month to see the work of theater directors in nearby venues you might not travel to at other times of the year.

William Lannon is the new kid on the block with his Outlore Theatre Co., on the waterfront in Rockland. In the five months since he opened this dinner theater, Lannon has staged some hefty shows, including works by Joe Orton, Edward Albee, Eugene O’Neill and Harold Pinter.

Last weekend, Lannon opened “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams. Perhaps one of the best-known plays of this century, “The Glass Menagerie” is a nugget of gold for a small theater space. It’s dreamy quality and emotional themes work perfectly in a setting as intimate as the one Lannon has created at Outlore, which has about 80 seats and serves dinner before the show.

When Tom Wingfield tells the story of his life, he’s talking right to you. When Laura’s glass unicorn loses its horn, you’re close enough to see the disappointment in her eyes. And when Amanda Wingfield cries out “Rise and shine!” her voice is like a morning alarm clock ringing in your ear.

That’s the strength of Outlore. You can see and hear every moment, which is especially fun when the scenes are humorous, which many are in this production.

But an intimate space also means the actors must have a delicate touch with the bigger scenes, the ones that are particularly wrenching or harsh. David Ray, as Tom, almost always oversentimentalizes and takes too long with his lines, and when he gets loud, the sound is intimidating if you’re sitting a mere 10 feet from the outburst.

Similarly, Laura Graham, as Amanda, can have a shrillness that overshoots the character. Amanda is adamant, for sure, but she’s also a Southern Lady, and her crafty sophistication should never be outdone by her exasperation. It doesn’t help either, that Graham looks about 20 years younger than a woman who has two grown children and has felt the sting of marital rejection after sailing through a charmed childhood. Graham also takes audibly melodramatic breaths between words, and the habit quickly becomes discomfiting.

The actor who best understands the subtlety of this script is Stephanie Greene, as Laura. Greene has an unusual and immediate warmth, which she uses to create a sympathetic young woman whose life has been lived in the shadows. By taking on the tragedy and the active fantasies of Laura, Greene gives her depth and beauty. The performance has some real grace.

Scott Greco as the Gentleman Caller is miscast in this role. He has a terrific voice and an entertaining ability to bumble. His acting can be amusing but doesn’t do much to establish the self-assurance of Williams’ Gentleman Caller, who once had the brawn of a star athlete and the charisma to win the attentions of all the girls he met.

There are moments when the cast achieves the intensity and drama that Williams’ script offers. But there’s also an awkwardness that comes from too much extracurricular business that does more to distract than to enhance the production.

“The Glass Menagerie” will be performed 8 p.m. Sept. 13, 18, 20, 28 and Oct. 2, 11, 19 and 23 at Outlore Theatre Co., 275 Main St. in Rockland. It is running in repertory with A.R. Gurney’s “Love Letters,” 8 p.m. Sept. 14, 17, 25, and Oct. 5, 9 and 18. For information, call 594-2522.