Broadway Bob's Theater Reviews
Margorie Prime at the Hays Theater
“Marjorie Prime” has now made its way to The Hayes Theater on Broadway with a great cast to help Jordan Harrison’s vision explore AI, death, and longing.
“Marjorie Prime” has the same director as ten years ago (Anne Kaufman). The main star today is June Squibb (it was Lois Smith at Playwrights). Squibb is very effective in her role as Marjorie. She is both comedic and pensive; her deliveries most times are precious. Cynthia Nixon, too, is at the top of her game as a somewhat bitter woman who questions her own mortality as a middle-aged woman. Her husband, Jon (Danny Burstein), is a warm, caring man who helped Marjorie interact with her dead husband, Walter (Christopher Lowell), via computer.
We learn about Walter’s and Marjorie’s life together as information is fed into the prime. The prime learns more and more about Walter as the play goes on, and at times the play gives us only little tidbits of warmth and feeling. The writing never hits the chords that it should, and that left me wanting more from this show. The direction never pulls at our emotional cords as it should have.
Lee Jellinek’s scenic design with a 70’s style green-colored set has sharp angles; the sharpness may well signify the cut-and-dry life of all four characters. Trapped in what could have beens, Jon seems like the only one content of the four. Happy in his marriage, his life, he goes about life wanting to help, to fit in with the family.
Ben Stanton’s lighting was without question the most interesting part of the evening. He captures the many moods that this show has. He is deft in the way he spreads the field when needed under the mostly romantic lighting. Ms. De La Rosa’s costumes are well done, especially on Nixon’s character. Tess is a woman of means; her style is always eye-catching every time she steps on stage.
“Marjorie Prime” is not a show for everyone; the subject matter may not please the passive theatergoer. The plot is not an ordinary one and the occasional audience member may just not be interested in its writing. After all, it is a play where an 85-year-old woman speaks to her dead husband!
Little Bear Ridge Road
Unfortunately I was not able to see "Little Bear Ridge Road" when critics were allowed in to review it. Seeing it today though was a great experience. Samuel D. Hunter wrote a magnificent body of work here.
Director Joe Mantello had this play at the right pace throughout the 90 minute intermission-less show. The play is gut wrenching at times and heart felt at other times. The plot is both hard hitting and funny at the same time.
Laurie Metcalf is perhaps at her very best in this play. Her personality, her brusque answers reminded me of her role in "Roseanne". Here, Metcalf commands her role; she is consistent and always believable. She can scream at someone over the phone and answer a question asked by her nephew all in the same sentence. Nothing phases her as being a nurse for 40 years, she has seen everything that makes her immune from pain. She is pragmatic and blunt.
Sarah (Metcalf) and Ethan (Micah Stock) are on stage for most of the play. There chemistry is brilliant. Mantello has the two banter about with great body language. The both feed off of each other and the audience eats it up! Where Ethan is fragile, Sarah is not. The two share many tender moments, especially when it comes to the TV shows that they watch. Hunter is quick to poke fun when one watches a show without the other (this happens quite a bit to most families who watch streaming shows together).
When Ethan has opinions of Sarah he is mostly confounded by her answers. Sarah is not judgemental and her aloof attitude is no way to be confused with her caring. Because she doesn't wear her heart on her sleeve doesn't mean that she is not emotional about things.
The show takes place in Idaho, and Ethan is there to sell his father's home. It is here he meets James (John Drea). Ethan can change his life around, a life that up until now has not been to wonderful. Ethan must make decisions of where he wants his life to go from here. We finally realize just how frustrated Ethan has been, how he sees himself as a person.
The set by Scott Pask is a simple one; a couch that is multi functional. The costumes are very basic (Jessica Pabst) and never take away from the story itself. Heather Gilbert's lighting is very well done. Her blend of colors support the show well. Never overbearing but just the right amount of blending balances the performance.
"Little Bear Ridge Road" may very well be the best play of this Fall 2025 season, a show that may very well land Laurie Metcalf another Tony Award for Best Actress!