Mother of the Maid at The Public Theater

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 9/25/18 at 8:20pm

Previews for Mother of the Maid at The Public Theater start tonight starring Glenn Close. Is anyone going tonight?

[theaterwiz414]

Posted: 9/26/18 at 7:42am

Also curious! 

Updated On: 10/14/18 at 07:42 AM

Posted: 9/26/18 at 12:10pm

So looking forward to this play... I'm sure Glenn Close will not disappoint!!!

[mamaleh]

Posted: 9/26/18 at 12:40pm

Thraterwiz— please, what is meant by “free digital rush”? I’m assuming Rush is not free. Also the website states it’s an in-person rush; how is that digital? Confusing terminology.

Thanks.

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 9/26/18 at 12:47pm

The Public does a free first preview rush via Today’s Tix. Not sure if they offer a general rush or lotto for subsequent performances.

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 9/26/18 at 2:19pm

I was so bummed that I didn’t win the free first preview lottery. This show sounds fascinating and I’m a big Glenn Close fan - sadly I don’t think it will fit into my budget.

Please someone come through with a detailed review!

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 9/26/18 at 2:28pm

Does anyone have an insight regarding the partial view seating? I know there are support poles in the way, but are some seats better than others, and, specifically, how is the front row? House left vs. house right? Any feedback is appreciated.

Updated On: 9/26/18 at 02:28 PM

[Elegance101]

Posted: 9/26/18 at 4:19pm

The hype for this has been so low. The posters outside of the Public don’t even say that Glenn Close is in this. I find the publicity really strange.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/26/18 at 4:29pm

One rush seat left

[AC126748]

Posted: 9/26/18 at 4:51pm

Elegance101 said: "The hype for this has been so low. The posters outside of the Public don’t even say that Glenn Close is in this. I find the publicity really strange."

The run is very well sold and it’s been extended three times already before the first preview. Obviously, word’s gotten around about it. 

Updated On: 9/26/18 at 04:51 PM

[LightsOut90]

Posted: 9/26/18 at 5:17pm

this is looking to transfer, just waiting for the reviews.

[theaterwiz414]

Posted: 9/26/18 at 8:11pm

Updated On: 10/14/18 at 08:11 PM

[Elegance101]

Posted: 9/26/18 at 8:39pm

AC126748 said: "Elegance101 said: "The hype for this has been so low. The posters outside of the Public don’t even say that Glenn Close is in this. I find the publicity really strange."

The run is very well sold and it’s been extended three times already before the first preview. Obviously, word’s gotten around about it."

You're right. I guess I just thought that detail was weird and I feel like I haven't heard much about it.

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 9/26/18 at 9:44pm

mamaleh said: "Thraterwiz— please, what is meant by “free digital rush”? I’m assuming Rush is not free. Also the website states it’s an in-person rush; how is that digital? Confusing terminology.

Thanks. "

TodayTix was late in removing the listing for last night's free first preview. The daily $20 mobile rush wasn't opened until this afternoon.

[Gizmo6]

Posted: 9/27/18 at 4:30pm

The front row $55 seats are telling me partial view back of the stage, is this just covering themselves or really an issue? Thanks 

[dave1606]

Posted: 9/27/18 at 4:43pm

I saw this last night and while I feel I have truly hit my quota of Joan of Arc plays between this, St. Joan and the musical that played the public, I thoroughly enjoyed Glenn Close and mostly liked the play. Glenn is giving a Tony award worthy performance that is fiery and passionate. Her final lines leading up to “I had a daughter” were really powerful.

As for the play I appreciated that it took a lighter approach. There was less of Joan’s insufferable piety here and even a little humor at court. This is much more about Joan’s family than Joan. Glenn is in nearly every scene. The dialogue is very modern, and the style reminded me of A Doll’s House Part 2.

Overall the play moves relatively quickly and again, this is a fantastic performance to see in such a small space.

Re. seating I imagine they are partial view as there is a set piece in the center of the stage that spins around. Not too much action happens there but there may be points that you won’t be able to see.

[Gizmo6]

Posted: 9/27/18 at 4:50pm

dave1606 said: "I saw this last night and while I feel I have truly hit my quota of Joan of Arc plays between this, St. Joan and the musical that played the public, I thoroughly enjoyed Glenn Close and mostly liked the play. Glenn is giving a Tony award worthy performance that is fiery and passionate. Her final lines leading up to “I had a daughter” were really powerful.

As for the play I appreciated that it took a lighter approach. There was less of Joan’s insufferable piety here and even a little humor at court. This is much more about Joan’s family than Joan. Glenn is in nearly every scene. The dialogue is very modern, and the style reminded me of A Doll’s House Part 2.

Overall the play moves relatively quickly and again, this is a fantastic performance to see in such a small space.

Re. seating I imagine they are partial view as there is a set piece in the center of the stage that spins around. Not too much action happens there but there may be points that you won’t be able to see."

Thanks very much i May chance the seat.

[BIG BALONEY]

Posted: 9/27/18 at 8:41pm

A simple play with a star will put butts in the seats. The theatre is small and all the seats ,for the most, have good views. I am glad I got to see this small play about a mother's struggle dealing with a blessed daughter. Mother,father and brother deal with daughter Joan's fame.Go on todays tix and try to get a discounted rush ticket. I got two for $20.each. Sometimes you win if you go on daily at 9:59 a.m.

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 10/2/18 at 2:57pm

Still looking for feedback on the front-row partial view seats. If anyone can be of assistance, I'd appreciate the help!

[JBroadway]

Posted: 10/4/18 at 12:43pm

oh man, I did not care for it at all.

I feel like I’ve been using the phrase “one-note” a lot recently to describe new plays, but this one really takes the cake.

Every single line Glenn Close has in this play (and she has many) is some variation on one of the following:

1. “Oh I hope Joan is safe. I’m so worried about her”
2. “Joan, you’re not doing enough to take care of yourself! I know what’s best!”
3. “Wow! This royal court sure is fancy!”

Over and over and over again for 2 hours. The dialogue is so repetitive and predictable. And overall, the play just felt so EASY. Like the playwright took this idea and threw it onstage without taking any time to deepen it, or add any kind of nuance or complexity. It’s just “You know how mothers worry about their children, well this one is Joan of Arc’s mother!” To me, this play felt like a half-baked writing exercise for a college playwriting class.

And I personally hated the dialogue. Not just because it was repetitive, but also because stylistically it seemed to be going for an effect that just did not fit the story. They were using kind of folksy slang that almost sounded Irish (though there was no hint of an Irish accent to be found). The playwright and the actors are all American, and the play is set in France, so I’m not sure where the Irish-sounding vernacular came from. It wasn’t period, it wasn’t geographically accurate, and it wasn’t stylistically appealing to me at all.

I do think Jane Anderson has an authentic understanding of the relationship between a mother and an adolescent. There were even a couple moments that reminded me of my mother. But that’s the thing: she has this understanding, but it feels like she’s using it to score “relatable” points with the audience, rather than actually saying anything interesting with it, or delving into it beyond the superficial recognizable tropes of a mother/daughter relationship.

Glenn Close is fine but she just does the same thing the whole time. And at times it feels like she’s playing a caricature. It’s nice to see her in such a small space, but if you’ve seen her onstage before, I say save your money and just watch Lady Bird instead.

[BIG BALONEY]

Posted: 10/4/18 at 9:40pm

Front row partial view is decent and not much obstructed at all.It is a small theatre and don't worry about the seat.

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 10/5/18 at 11:28am

JBroadway, Glenn Close isn't in Lady Bird.....

[Elegance101]

Posted: 10/5/18 at 11:31am

GeorgeandDot said: "JBroadway, Glenn Close isn't in Lady Bird....."

I’m pretty sure they were referring to a cheaper way to see a mother-daughter relationship, not to see Glenn Close.

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 10/14/18 at 2:02am

I agree that the play is good but never great, but Close is excepcional!

She does drama, comedy, shes wit but also lost. I think its a great character and she plays perfect.

I am very happy that I was able to see her live on stage in such a fierce performance.

[jbird5]

Posted: 10/14/18 at 6:51am

Close is terrific but so is the supporting cast, especially Grace Van Patten. Here is a young actress we might one day be speaking of in terms of a Close. It just amplifies how miscast Condola Rashad was in the role, though that was a very different play.

As for the language, I thought it was appropriate since Joan’s family were peasants albeit fairly well off for their class. The only Irishism was calling the father Da. Conventionality, they all would have been speaking with English accents which would have been just as wrong. I was grateful for the fresh take.

I think this play sheds some light on the mystery of Joan. Apparently she just didn’t appear out of the vapor. She apparently inherited many of her traits from her mother who was a remarkable woman herself. I think the play actually underplays this making her seem more simple than she actually was. I would have liked to see when she traveled to Rome and cleared her daughters name. Maybe a sequel?.