Broken Glass

By: Arthur Miller

Narrated by: JoBeth Williams, David Dukes, Lawrence Pressman, Linda Purl, full cast

Set in 1938 Brooklyn, this gripping psychological mystery begins when attractive, level-headed Sylvia Gellburg suddenly loses her ability to walk. The only clue lies in Sylvia’s obsession with news accounts from Germany. Though safe in Brooklyn, Sylvia is terrified by Nazi violence—or is it something closer to home?

Includes an interview with Dr. David D. Clarke about psychosomatic illnesses.

Recorded before a live audience at the DoubleTree Suites, Santa Monica in June 1996.

Directed by Steve Albrezzi

Producing Director: Susan Albert Loewenberg

An L.A. Theatre Works Full-Cast Performance Featuring:

Jane Brucker as Harriet

David Dukes as Doctor Harry Hyman

Lawrence Pressman as Phillip Gellburg

Linda Purl as Margaret Hyman

John Vickery as Stanton Case

JoBeth Williams as Sylvia Gellbur

Radio Production and Original Music: Raymond Guarna

Stage Manager and Live Sound Effects: Amy Strong

(P)1997 L.A. Theatre Works

Good but emotionally difficult. Wonderful acting.

The story is interesting and makes you think, but is also depressing (at least I felt that way). I would not call it a psychological mystery, or a mystery at all, although for some reason it is represented as such. I also did not find the interview regarding psychosomatic illness.
The acting was very good.

True to Arthur Miller

Leave it to Arthur Miller to write a play that will make you think, make you feel, and make you hope for the world to become a better place.

So good!

Magnificent performances by all. Spellbinding. Theatre of the mind at its best! Fascinating and memorable.

Not suitable for children

My young teen son was listening and was disturbed by some innuendo. Need to preview before letting teens listen.

Riveting

I've very much enjoyed Miller's plays that I've seen. I'd never heard of this play, and had no idea of what to expect. I thought it was a very engaging, layered play. Thought the acting was very good. It's a little different listening to a play, and not seeing it. Actors need to convey more vocally, more like a radio play – which ultimately, this is. Very nicely presented.

The story, about Jewish families in New York at the time of the rise of the Nazis in Germany was somewhat of a psychological thriller. Is there a psychological underpinning to what appears to be hysterical paralysis, and questions about how a life was spent... or wasted?