Review: BROKEN GLASS, Young Vic Theatre
Photo credit: Tristram Kenton
Set in 1938 Brooklyn and written in 1994, Broken Glass follows Sylvia Gellburg, a Jewish housewife who is suddenly struck by paralysis in her legs with no apparent physical cause. As her husband brings her to a doctor in search of answers, the play unfolds into a layered exploration of marriage, repression, identity and what it means to be Jewish in a world tilting towards extremism. It’s impossible not to feel how relevant that question is again today.
There’s a real slam of energy and physicality driving this production. Arthur Miller’s text is characteristically dense and dialogue-heavy, dissecting each relationship, doctor and patient, husband and wife, Jew and non-Jew, with incredible precision. By the end, the shifts are striking: the assured doctor feels destabilised, the powerful businessman seems to lose his physical dominance, and those arcs are beautifully portrayed by the cast.
Juliet Cowan is a particular delight, clearly relishing her role and bringing moments of levity that lift the weight of the material without undercutting it. The performances across the board are strong, with bold character choices that keep the emotional stakes high.
Jordan Fein’s direction takes the intimacy of Miller’s writing and discovers in it some fresh choices. The play operates at such sustained intensity, that when the energy dips even though it’s rare, it’s still noticeable. Some exchanges, particularly between Sylvia and her husband, could be sharper, especially the physical ones regarding her paralysis. We get a lot but still crave deeper focus into the fractures of that marriage. And while the production builds like a growing snowball towards a major climax, the tension diffuses slightly afterwards, leaving a few later scenes feeling comparatively static.
Broken Glass proves to be a compelling and beautifully played revival and its themes land with unsettling force right now.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Beatriz Ferreira
Broken Glass plays at London’s Young Vic Theatre until 18 April, with further info here.
