The Glass Menagerie

The beauty of this loosely autobiographical Tennessee Williams 1944 classic lies both in the playwright’s powerful, poetic prose and in his understated portrayal of his relationship with his histrionic mother and emotionally delicate sister. This production makes a curious diversion in the typical portrayal of a more reticent Tom, with actor David Crane presenting an angry, explosively charged character who rants and rages throughout. This portrayal undermines what usually makes for such a heart-tugging journey. There are still wonderful moments, most notably from actress Janis Stevens, who was born to play the part of the highly theatrical Amanda Wingfield. Th 6:30 pm; F 8pm; Sa 2pm and 8pm Su 2pm; W 6:30pm. Through 4/30. $15-38. Sacramento Theatre Company, 1419 H Street; (916) 443-6722; www.sactheatre.org. P.R.