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MANSFIELD -The New England Repertory Company has come up with an enthralling production of Tennessee Williams' classic drama "The Glass Menagerie," playing the next two weekends at the MMAS Black Box Theater.

Peppered with autobiographical elements, "Menagerie" won the New York Drama Critics Circle award in 1944 as best play of the season, and it is considered to be one of Williams' finest efforts. And set as it is in Depression-era St. Louis, it's a play that today's audiences can well relate to.

Mike Kiernan directs the New England Rep production of this tale of failed dreams, hopeful wishes, and family duty.

Lucas Lloyd is personable in the role of narrator Tom Wingfield, the frustrated son who dreams of a life other than one he shares with his mother and sister.

Tom's sister Laura is fragile, just like her glass collection. Extremely shy, self-conscious and fearful of her mother, she retreats to her glass world. Jocelyn Winzer Chek captures the essence of the character but at times she seemed to struggle with which direction to take it, and her performance was a trifle inconsistent on opening night last Friday. The main character in this play is the overpowering mother Amanda Wingfield. Beth Goldman commands the stage in this role of a Southern woman once wooed by 17 gentlemen callers. She is great as the long-suffering abandoned wife and mother who places the burden of her lost dreams upon her children, which pushes Laura further into her glass world and eventually pushes Tom right out the door.

Goldman is exquisite in this role. Her scenes were a delight to watch and to study for literary insight.

There is one other character, the Gentlemen Caller, whom Tom invites at his mother's behest to meet Laura. Amanda and Tom have their differences but both share their concern for Laura and her fate in life.

In Act II, Goldman again commands the stage as her character relives her past and entertains as if she is the one receiving the Gentleman Caller instead of Laura. When Laura and Jim are left alone, he is the one person who for a short while is able to draw Laura out of her glass world, only to leave her there again.

Brian Dunham is a perfect fit for this role. Affable and confident, he plays it with compassion.

As the final scene unfolds, the audience remains in silent awe until the lights are brought back up and the actors return for their applause.

Brilliant from a literary standpoint and poignant on stage, "The Glass Menagerie" at MMAS should not be missed if you enjoy a good, classic drama.

The play will run for the next two weekends; showtimes are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $20 general; $19 members and seniors; $18 students younger than 18. Call 508-339-2822 or visit mmas.org.