MARJORIE PRIME Previews

Curious who June Squibbs standby/understudy is

TodayTix says the running time is 90 minutes, no intermission.

Can't wait to hear how tonight goes!

The play I most want to see this season. The original production was exquisite, featuring a legendary treasure, the towering Lois Smith. Casting Squib seems an equally brilliant stroke, and it's interesting that she's at least a decade older than the character (unless Harrison has made adjustments). Curious to hear how Squib navigates the role's challenges (no spoilers), her signature earthiness and brusque non-nonsense gravitas seem ideal.

I’m going on Sunday and have been sold since they announced the cast because it’s all heavyweights and I’m glad to hear most of them get their moment. Even if Lowell gets the short shrift, I know he’s a great performer and was an underrated standout in CULT OF LOVE last year.

For those who have seen this, what time has it been ending?

Thank you!

The actresses in plays this year simply did NOT come to play when it comes to craft and creating full-bodied human characters. It’s a quick 85-90 minutes, but you are locked in from the jump.

Squibb gets her shining moments to be the sassy grandma we know and love before going into some painful territory as she comes to grips with her dementia and the conflict between what’s left of her natural memory versus the artificially preserved memories that, slight spoiler, have some curation to them to avoid potentially upsetting her. Nixon is a formidable scene partner for Squibb and plays the put-upon daughter coping with emotional neglect with aplomb as she slowly peels away to show the hurt that shaped her relationship with her mother.

Burstein is absolutely warm and amiable and I would expect nothing less, which makes his major final scene with Cynthia toward the end absolutely shattering and that was the moment that finally broke me. Lowell fits in perfectly with this cast and, while he isn’t so much a character as a plot device, I disagree that he doesn’t get his own star moment, which comes in the final scene of the show with the two ladies.

I do have one quibble with the script:

Alzheimer’s/dementia dramas can definitely feel played out and capitalize on being tearjerkers, but this one is truly a marvelously layered piece and there’s a reason why it was a Pulitzer Prize finalist. Don’t rob yourself an opportunity to go see this.

STAGE DOOR: Since someone will ask - Cynthia Nixon signed for us all. Christopher Lowell wanted to but his elderly relative was in attendance and so he wanted to get her home safely. (So, likely in the future). Squibb came out, blew kisses, and waved, but did not sign (and if you were expecting her to, you’re a damn fool), and Burstein did not appear.

Having seen this twice before when it hit the regional circuit pretty hard, I just don't see the need to see another production of this play...does anyone know if there have been any revisions to the text?

BoringBoredBoard40 said: "Falsettolands said: "Having seen this twice before when it hit the regional circuit pretty hard, I just don't see the need to see another production of this play...does anyone know if there have been any revisions to the text?"

the reason to see this is June Squibb make Broadway history"

96, amazing, right? Maybe one day we’ll have a President that age.

My review of "Marjorie Prime" at 2nd Stage:

"Marjorie Prime" singleticket's substack

Updated On: 11/24/25 at 07:25 AM

BoringBoredBoard40 said: "Falsettolands said: "Having seen this twice before when it hit the regional circuit pretty hard, I just don't see the need to see another production of this play...does anyone know if there have been any revisions to the text?"

the reason to see this is June Squibb make Broadway history"

Exactly. And never once did she call for a line and kept her comedic chops and dramatic beats in perfect synchronicity with the rest of the ensemble. She even has this one hilarious moment during the show where she is:

I haven’t seen this revival yet, but - seeing as it’s a lauded, Pulitzer-nominated text - I can’t imagine they would have made any alterations to it that would merit another viewing just based on those changes alone. If seeing June Squibb isn’t reason enough, it sounds like you’re not the audience for it, Falsettolands.

I saw this downtown in 2015 with Lois Smith, Stephen Root and Lisa Emery. I liked it and the impressive performances. If I saw the movie, I dont remember it.

i dont know if its my own fading memory or just the quality/freshness of this production, but aside from the initial concept that i knew going in, this felt like a totally new play for me. its gentle and powerful and is non-flashy without ever being boring. a truly solid 90 minutes.

i genuinely find it hard to believe June Squibb is 96 years old. i think Lois Smith did "more" with the character--Squibb is adorable, charismatic, not much more than that--but its a true delight watching this icon almost casually perform at least 45 minutes of dialogue. shes perfectly cast and doing a fantastic job.

i agree that burstein is giving the deepest, most complex performance here. i liked nixon more than i thought she would---she always seems to be playing another version of Miranda to me, sometimes in period costumes, but THIS version of Miranda makes alot of sense, and her character makes more sense than I remember Emery's did. She also looks beautiful in the wig they have her in, fwiw. And dont sleep on Lowell- its a tricky role, and he more than lands it.

surprised to see some empty seats in the mezzanine, and felt the audience response was warm but reserved (squibb got entrance applause she seemed surprised by, nixon seemed irritated by hers). we were dead center row D of the mezzanine and the view was perfect--though the mezzanine at the Hayes always seems a bit far back, while the orchestra has to contend with a very high stage.

recommended.