Susan Granger’s review of “Conversations with Mother” (Theatre 555 – Off-Broadway)
Immediately evocative of Harvey Fierstein’s “Torch Song Trilogy,” Matthew Lombardo’s new, Off-Broadway semi-autobiographical comedy – “Conversations with Mother” – chronicles the troubled relationship over six decades between a gay man and his now-76 year-old mother.
Free-spirited, insecure Bobby Collavechio (Matt Doyle) and his feisty Irish Catholic mother Maria (Caroline Aaron) are perpetually at odds with one another. Aware of her ypungest son’s homosexuality since he was a youngster, protective Maria stands by him through an abusive sexual relationship, alcoholism and addiction to crystal meth.
“I have been bailing you kids out for years. My girls? No problems at all. My boys? They knock down the 10 Commandments as if they were bowling pins.”
When Bobby escapes from Connecticut to pursue a playwriting career in New York during the height of the AIDS crisis, he takes a job in a gay bar called the Meat Hook, which Maria thinks it’s a delicatessen. And so it goes…
The engaging chemistry between the two talented leads adroitly propels the familiar, occasionally uneven script. Best known as Shirley Maisel, the domineering Jewish mother-in-law in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” Caroline Aaron displays her splendid comedic timing, while Mark Doyle, Tony Award-winning star of the recent Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim’s “Company,” exudes charming boyishness.
Adeptly directed by Noah Himmelstein, the two-hander – divided into 11 scenes with a prologue and epilogue – runs the emotional gamut.
Each vignette is demarcated by Caite Hevner’s projections on the back wall, like replicating photos from the Collavechio family album with labels like “Tell Me the Truth and I won’t Get Mad,” If Everyone Jumped Off a Bridge, Would You?” and “Why Can’t You Ever Meet a Nice Boy?”
They’re aptly augmented by Wilson Chen’s minimal scenic design, Elizabeth Harper’s effective lighting, Ryan Peck’s costumes, Tom Watson’s wig/hair design, and sound by John Gromada.
Running 85 minutes with no intermission, “Conversations with Mother” plays through May 11 at Theatre 555 on 42nd Street at 11th Avenue. For tickets and information: conversationsplay.com