Mary Page Marlowe

See it if Non-linear puzzle play w/great acting. We see scenes in-between major events in Mary Page's life. Her character growth occurs off-stage.

Don't see it if You don't want to spend time after the play figuring out what happened. You don't like multiple actresses playing the same character.

Also Deep character development. The major transition in Mary Page's life, that enables her to establish a more self-confident identity, occurs off-stage and is implied by her character before and after.

After the play, my son and I put the scenes in chronological order and talked about what happened in between each pair of scenes to effect the observed changes in Mary Page.

There are also helpful hints in the "college girlfriends tarot card" scene and the "old lady in the hospital" scene that help frame the rest of Mary Page's life.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see Letts' "patchwork" of non-sequential vignettes in the life of an Everywoman (or a Nobody?), played skillfully by 6 actresses

Don't see it if you'll be frustrated that such a well-written, well-acted & well-directed play still somehow feels dull, detached & uninspired.

Also The whole is less than the sum of its parts.

See it if Character study of one woman's quest to unravel what comprised her life. This reveal is the sort that Letts excels. Told on bi-level stage.

Don't see it if Multiple actors portray said character, with varying degrees of successful acting styles. Continuity suffers.

See it if you want to see excellent performances in a play that seems built to showcase those performances at the expense of cohesive storytelling.

Don't see it if you want a show that has something to say. This show FEELS like it does but as I walked out I didn't feel like it left me with anything.

See it if you enjoy female-centric shows or stories about average people living familiar lives.

Don't see it if you prefer fast-paced shows or stories featuring extraordinary circumstances. There are no bells and whistles here.

See it if Excellent acting. Story told with 6 actresses playing the same character across time. It worked well. I didn’t find that distracting.

Don't see it if You are not interested in seeing the life of a woman depicted.

Also Actresses were similar enough that the changes flowed nicely. Nice period appropriate costumes. 90 minutes no intermission.... Read more Read less

See it if You really enjoy character-driven plays, where you take a deep dive into one particular person.

Don't see it if You dislike slow, talky plays with very little action — just flashback vignettes of somewhat-poignant times in a person’s life.

See it if you want to see an original concept—a woman's life played out in non-linear order by a group of excellent actresses. Fine work by director.

Don't see it if you need to follow a linear or chronological order to a play. Ultimately, everything does come together.

See it if you want to see a play where 6 or so actresses play one character over her entire life

Don't see it if you are hoping for a moving story. This is all about the idea/concept and not much about an overall story

Also The play is broken down into a bunch of small scenes that go together but not in order. Some of them were really good and some not so good.... Read more Read less

See it if you like Tracy Letts.This is a super clever way to show us a woman's life by just showing us special moments--out of order, just like memory

Don't see it if you want a straightforward linear play.I like putting the pieces together.I wish main character were more likeable.I wanted to root for her

See it if you like slice of life character studies and excellent acting from talented/ accomplished actresses. This cast is outstanding.

Don't see it if you are easily confused by multiple actresses playing same character at different periods of her life or major time shifts between scenes.

See it if An interesting take on one woman’s life, played at different ages by 6 different actresses. Maslany and Brown were the strongest.

Don't see it if The actresses, while all fine, really didn’t seem like they were all playing the same woman.

See it if You like puzzle solving. You like to see a series of anectdotes that you build into a life.

Don't see it if You like straightforward linear plays. You prefer light entertainment. You don't like familial melodrama.

Also Having this many actors, each brings a different energy to the role. There is a certain amount of trying to figure out the age of the current Mary Page to be able to put things in a time frame. I was automatically drawn to some of the actresses and almost repelled by others.
I loved the look of the stage and the concept of the stage, but sometimes the creakiness of rolling out a new set peice interfered with the fluidity of the piece. The fact that I was bothered by this illustrates my lack of true engagement.
I was very much looking forward to this play and wanted mre power in the vignettes. The Blair Brown/Brian Kerwin interlude and the college Mary Page both worked very well. (Blair Brown's other scenes were not as effective). Tatiana Maslany was also effective in both her scenes. So, it was interesting but ultimately very disappointing.... Read more Read less

See it if interested in seeing a show about the evolving personality of a woman played by 6 different actors at various stages of her life.

Don't see it if you find it difficult to follow shifting non-sequential time lines. There are questions that go unanswered just as in real life.

Also The acting is superb across the board. It's always a pleasure to see Blair Brown.... Read more Read less

See it if you follow Tracy Letts and enjoy the way he creates full characters.

Don't see it if you prefer linear timelines and less ambiguous conclusions.

See it if A story of a complex woman at different ages (played by 6 different actors) who at various stages is troubled and narcissistic. Nonlinear

Don't see it if want a linear, fast-paced play. Some scenes seem inconsequential but have subtle lines.

Also Clever 2 tiered set allows smooth switching between ages

See it if you enjoy plays by Tracy Letts or are looking for a compelling drama about an incredibly complex female character.

Don't see it if you need constant, fast-paced action to keep your attention. This is nuanced, intimate and at times, slow.

See it if You really love Tracy Letts and enjoy learning about his development as a playwright. Or Susan Pourfar--she once again stole the show.

Don't see it if If you don't care about the above, and if stories about the travails of women are getting boring and hackneyed for you.

See it if you want to see a complex depiction of a woman's life told from an original point of view. All of the Marys were well played.

Don't see it if you need a straight chronological narrative. I'll admit I was a bit confused at times, but it all came together.

See it if like to piece together stories yourself, this is for you. great acting by multiple people to play one character

Don't see it if not a lot of story happens so may not be for all. may be confusing for some.

See it if Entertaining play from Tracy Letts.Six actresses play the same character in a non-linear fashion, from childhood to old age. Great cast.

Don't see it if You prefer a play with a linear progression of scenes in which everything is neatly tied up.

See it if you like "slice of life" cinema, plays with a lot of jump-cuts through time, psychological portraits, empathetic portrayals of unlikeables.

Don't see it if you're expecting a traditional narrative structure. This is more of a character study of the life of an "average" American woman.

See it if Naturalistic script performed by wonderful actors, including Blair Brown, Tatiana Maslany and Streep's daughter Grace Gummer.

Don't see it if Simple story executed in a non-linear format.

See it if You are up for the life story of complex character, Mary Page, portrayed by 6 actresses under Tracy Letts' brilliant direction.

Don't see it if you prefer uncomplicated stories where concentration is not required.

See it if you like non-linear shows with less-than-likable characters done very well.

Don't see it if you are easily confused by plot.