Return to the Limelight

Susan Love had given up on one of her passions 20 years ago.

A theater major in her day, Love relished working as a professional actor in Chicago. Upon moving to Grayslake, however, she was forced to step away from acting due to distance and she became a psychotherapist.

Love has found her passion again, and she has found it at CLC's . She is playing Amanda in Tennessee Williams' famous drama, The Glass Menagerie, running November 12-20 in the Studio Theatre.

"I am having the time of my life being back in the theater," Love said. "It feels like coming home after a long absence."

The play centers on a 1930's St. Louis family, Amanda and her children Tom and Laura, whose father abandoned the family long ago. "Their mother, Amanda (whom I play) has held the family together by herself ever since," Love said.

Part of the play's conflict arises from the fact that Amanda relies on her son's income resulting in his growing bitterness and desire to get away from his family. "The play as it unfolds shows us what happens as the dreams and desires of the three family members conflict and collide," Love said. "It's a play about dreams, about memory that haunts Tom and sustains Amanda, about loss and love."

Some of the roles Love has had in the past include the Countess Aurelia in The Madwoman of Chaillot, Catherine in And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little and Ismene in Antigone.

Love hopes The Glass Menagerie will produce an appreciation for a great piece of classic American theater. "The themes are as relevant to today as they were when the play was first produced in the 1940's," Love said.

Love, having always wanted to play Amanda, was careful to develop the character apart from what she considers an oft stereotyped role. She said that Amanda has been portrayed as an overbearing, hysterical and delusional, faded Southern belle who lives in the past and runs her children's live.

"There is an element of truth in all of those descriptions," Love said, "but I see in Amanda also a mother who loves her children deeply and truly wants their happiness."

For her role, Love pulled from her own experience as a mother.

The Glass Menagerie's other cast members are Patrick Adamek who plays Amanda's son, Alyssa Klein who plays Amanda's daughter and Don Stoneberg who plays Jim O'Connor, a source of hope for Amanda. 

"All three of these young actors have impressed me with their hard work and professionalism," Love said.

Additionally, Love said it is a pleasure to work with the director, Craig Rich. "He has a vision for what he wants, but he approaches it in the spirit of creative collaboration, which is the most enjoyable way to work as an actor," she said.

Love is married to John Hatlestad. Upon the birth of their daughter, Olivia, Love grew interested in Waldorf Education. Olivia now attends school at Water's Edge Waldorf School in Wauconda, where Love works as the Administrator and Enrollment Coordinator. She also has a private practice as a parent coach.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call the James Lumber box office at (847) 543-2300 or visit them online at http://jlcenter.clcillinois.edu/tickets.asp.