The Mother of Invention

See it if experience a gifted cast making the most of tragi/comic material in the MARVINs ROOM vein

Don't see it if Alzheimers, family conflict, cardboard boxes, male nudity, too many lamps, Christmas lights, memory journals, guns, or color alerts irk you

See it if you enjoy a family drama with some unique complications and peppered with humor.

Don't see it if you don't like plays about families.

See it if A compassionate look at a family dealing w/mother w/Alzheimer's & moving her to assisted living. Wonderful acting but confusing plot lines.

Don't see it if Potential for a great show but too many characters w/unclear actions & motives, weird gratuitous nudity, muddied the plot & caused confusion

See it if an excellent, creative new theatrical voice, a fabulous cast, very clever set and staging and some plot surprise appeals. Funny and intense.

Don't see it if the reality of aging and Altzheimers, dysfunctional families, and overt sexuality unsettle you. This is no Ozzie and Harriet story.

See it if You like small plays; you're interested in plays about family relationships. You like Concetta Tomei (who is fantastic in this).

Don't see it if Topics like Alzheimer's and aging and illness disturb you too much. You would be offended by brief male nudity.

Also I can't understand why other reviewers didn't like this. I was completely captivated by the writing and acting. Even the set was great and added to the "action". It's very much a play of dialogue and ideas - not a lot of actual movement.

Concetta Tomei was great as the mother with Alzheimer's and all the supporting cast was also terrific.

There's a lot of philosophical musings and some things are not totally straightforward. But that's drama, right?

Anyway, I was really moved by it and recommend it. There was a group in front of me who said that couldn't follow it -- they of course had been talking to each other throughout and then complained about "not getting it" when leaving. It does require attention. If you don't want to listen this isn't for you.... Read more Read less

See it if family drama

Don't see it if family drama

See it if a story of siblings with their own issues dealing with deciding to put their mother in a home and a couple of people with shady agendas

Don't see it if no reason not to see it

See it if you are interested in family relationship plays, like relevant topics, enjoy intimate plays

Don't see it if you want don't like dark and thought provoking topics

Also An ambitious play about dealing with alzheimer's disease. The siblings in this play see things differently while their mother with the disease sometimes has the clearest vision. Interesting theatrical device using the mother character at times as if she were a ghost (perhaps these are what her inside thoughts are while her children are in real time). Sometimes confusing to figure out what is going on, but the actors all give strong performances that pull the show together. Not a real happy show, but still satisfying.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy memory plays such as "The Glass Menagerie" and are interested in quirky family dramas with bizarre characters.

Don't see it if you dislike nudity and traditional straight-play fare.

See it if You like topics about Alzheimer’s, family, aging, and death. Very solid acting, can be hilarious & sad at the same time.

Don't see it if You don't like male nudity, slow progression of the plot. I have no idea why some kisses happened unexpectedly...

See it if you want well acted, very off beat drama about family strife with some kooky twists thrown in

Don't see it if a tale of family drama is not your thing, nor seeing a naked man seduce a mother and her son (separately)

See it if you like funny family dramas,great acting,you have an interest in alzheimers or aging parents

Don't see it if see it

See it if you enjoy cliche family drama that is well acted, sometimes funny.

Don't see it if you want new insights into the aging process and family dysfunction.

See it if you enjoy seeing shows that have glimmers of unrealized good ideas. This show has so many ideas and is so diffuse that it has zero impact.

Don't see it if you are impatient w/ a meandering plot & some really uneven acting (some are excellent & some are terrible). I often wondered, "why".

See it if you wish to be entertained by fine acting in a play both serious (Alzheimer's) and slightly outlandish (children and weird neighbors).

Don't see it if you don't want to think about Alzheimer's and need a show with a very neat and satisfying conclusion.

See it if you think that a scattered, aimless plot and pacing might be fitting for a story about Alzheimer's. But there are better Alzheimer's plays.

Don't see it if you'd be frustrated by going back and forth between attempts at dramatic insight and broad comedy, which end up accomplishing neither well.

See it if Don't mind seeing a play about alzheimers and how it affects family members. Concetta Tomei was good as the mother as was the child actress.

Don't see it if If you have a problem with making lite of Alzheimers and you don't like male frontal nudity.

See it if you don't mind sitting through one unwarranted woe after the other served up by characters who it's difficult to empathize with. Nonsense.

Don't see it if despite a few wonderful performances, you have trouble watching monologs being performed while holding an urn of dad's ashes.

See it if If you like quirky off Broadway shows.

Don't see it if You want to sing and dance and have your spirits lifted.

See it if You enjoy plays that realistically portray dysfunctional families and the heartbreak when a parent has Alzheimer's Disease.

Don't see it if You require complete clarity throughout a play. There was some dialogue that I found confusing. If you have an issue with nudity.

Also There is a brief, but very satisfying nude scene : ) The acting is very good.... Read more Read less

See it if You are looking for a realistic look at aging with a memory disorder

Don't see it if You are not wanting something classic or very funny

See it if You are curious about how families deal with the onset of Alzheimer's disease. This show dealt more with the relationship of siblings

Don't see it if It is a topic that you may find upsetting. However, there is humor that helps keep the show entertaining as well.

See it if You like intimate theatre that supports new works, want a glimpse into a dysfunctional family coping with Alzheimer's.

Don't see it if You can't sit through a show that has no intermission or if brief nudity bothers you.

See it if have two hours to spend on a show

Don't see it if you don't like common theme performances.

See it if You enjoy thoughtful pieces about real-life stories. This play really makes you think about aging and age-related illnesses like Alzheimer's

Don't see it if You are looking for a happy, uplifting play. This play is extremely well-acted, but the content is dark.