INTERVIEW: ‘Conversations With Mother’ offers good company for 80 minutes
Photo: Conversations With Mother stars Caroline Aaron and Matt Doyle. Photo courtesy of Carol Rosegg / Provided by BBB with permission.
NEW YORK — Matthew Lombardo’s Conversations With Mother, currently running in a limited engagement at Theatre 555 in New York City, offers ample opportunity to its two stars, Caroline Aaron and Matt Doyle, to sink their teeth into meaty characters that go through quite a journey over the course of 80 minutes. Aaron is Maria, mother to Doyle’s Bobby. They have a tight-knit relationship, with constant conversations on the phone and open dialogue about a host of various topics. Theirs is a healthy connection, one where Mom supports Son, and Son makes Mom proud.
Lombardo’s play mostly works because its two performers are such solid theatrical interpreters. They hold the audience’s attention for the duration of the show, even though the structure of the piece often keeps them separated on stage. The premise of this on-stage relationship is that Maria and Bobby are not together often, what with Bobby starting a personal and professional life in New York City, and Maria staying home in Connecticut at their family home. This creates a somewhat awkward staging because the characters, obviously close with each other, don’t often look at each other in the eyes or hold hands. They have a loving connection, but one that is from a far distance. Director Noah Himmelstein is able to overcome this theatrical challenge, but there’s still a distance that proves to be a hurdle, as if this were two monologues stitched together.
Bobby’s character is fleshed out the most. He’s young, trying to find a job and attempting to find a boyfriend. His mother supports him in each of these endeavors, even though she has harsh words for the man he eventually settles on. The dialogue between the two is not exactly reciprocated because a lot of information is missing about Maria and her current life. This seems to be Bobby’s story, which is actually Lombardo’s story because the play is billed as semi-autobiographical; even the title of the show speaks to the son’s perspective.
Aaron, known for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, is quite funny with her line delivery. She’s often dispensing advice and wisdom, even when it’s not asked for, and Bobby is accepting and open to the suggestions, even though some of the comments drive him mad. Aaron finds the right balance of comedic and heartfelt; it’s obvious she’s playing a kind, caring, questioning parent who has Bobby’s best interests in mind.
Doyle is an exciting actor on the New York City theater scene, a Tony Award winner for his memorable turn in Company on Broadway. In this piece, he’s able to showcase lines of dialogue that rightly earn him a chuckle, but he’s also exquisite in the more serious scenes when the inevitable begins to happen. He completely and authentically sells his character over these 80 minutes.
Wilson Chin’s set design mainly consists of projected images and videos on the far back wall, courtesy of designer Caite Hevner, and simple furniture and props in the foreground. Maria and Bobby add costume elements by either walking off stage for a quick change or heading to little drawers and cubbies on their respective sides of the stage. It mostly works and keeps the attention focused on the characters.
Some of Lombardo’s writing is a bit cliche, a joke that is actually referenced by the characters in the play, almost as if this were meta theater. Still, it’s hard not to fall for these two people on stage. It’s satisfying to spend time with good, kind people, and that’s what Maria and Bobby are, solid company who have a loving bond that fulfills them and keeps them going each and every day.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Conversations With Mother, written by Matthew Lombardo and directed by Noah Himmelstein, stars Caroline Aaron and Matt Doyle. Running time: 80 minutes with no intermission. Currently playing Theatre 555 on 42nd Street in New York City. Click here for more information and tickets.
