When stepping into a major role in an iconic play such as 'The Glass Menagerie', it is fair to say that there will be audience expectations and a whole lot of pressure to perform. Jason Klarwein, as Tom, the narrator in Tennessee Williams' most loved play, is less intimidated and more thankful to be playing the role in this reclothed classic.

Describe the show in 5 words.
A tragi-comic look at a family in a state of collapse. I know that's more than five but I never liked rules.

What is your role and how did it come about?
I play Tom, the amusingly depressed son trying to get out of the rut he is in. I'm also the narrator of the play and Tennessee Williams based the character on himself. The 'Menagerie' is his most autobiographical work. David Berthold and I have been trying to work together on something and I finally had some time to say yes to this play.
This is a famous play, do you feel extra pressure to play it a certain way or have it received a certain way?
I think people have memories, like the play 'The Glass Menagerie', that are heightened and not quite real. This is my experience when talking to people about Tennessee Williams. People confuse a whole lot of celluloid experience with the theatrical experience and in Tennessee's case, the scripts are radically different.
Have you played this role or been involved in another version of 'The Glass Menagerie?'
No. This is a gift of a role. I have been in two productions of 'A Streetcar Named Desire' so I'm very familiar with his motifs.

What is your fav. line in the play and why?
I have many. In a fight with his mother Tom gives her this gift of truth — “Every time you come in yelling that God damn 'Rise and Shine! Rise and Shine!', I say to myself, 'How lucky dead  people are!'” Tom also says this of the cinema: “People go to the movies instead of moving. Hollywood characters are supposed to have all the adventures for everybody in America, while everybody in America sits in a dark room and watches them have them.” 

What do you want the audience to say as they leave?
"Well that was a ride! Let's drink!"

Has there been any special preparation for this role?
A lot of accent work and textual preparation. Also finding 101 things to do with a zippo lighter has been fun.

Some words to describe your castmates? What is the team like and what is the mix like?
The play is very fast and furious in places so it requires a lot of listening and complicity to make this come off the page. We are very lucky to have a dextrous cast that play well together but are hard working.

If someone famous had to play the narrator of your life - who would it be and why?
Ian McKellen or Morgan Freeman. They would make my life sound sexy yet intelligently pre-destined

Anything else readers should know?
This is no old-school boring play. The reason it's a classic is that it thrills with laughter and then rips you apart. Oh yeah and the structure and placement of the writing is beautiful.

'The Glass Menagerie' runs until August 31 at La Boite's Roundhouse Theatre.