Wonderful, Heartbreaking
This article originally appeared on Nov. 15, 2012, in Compass, published by The Lakeville Journal Co.
Theater: ‘ ’Night Mother’
By Darryl Gangloff
A simple, matter-of-fact line transforms a normal evening at home into an intense discussion as a mother tries to understand her daughter’s thinking.
“I’m going to kill myself, Mama.”
The Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck is a perfect spot for “ ’Night Mother.” The stadium seating, which is close to the stage, gives the audience the opportunity to sit with the Cateses in their living room and kitchen, observing this powerful exchange between Thelma and her daughter, Jessie.
The set is impressive: a well-stocked kitchen (complete with a working sink), a couch with its comfortable blanket, the overflowing candy dishes — all of these details make it feel as though Thelma and Jessie really live there, which makes their plight even more heartbreaking.
The cast is comprised of two women, who kept me on the edge of my seat during the 90-minute play. (Thankfully there is no intermission, which would have distracted me out of this powerful drama.)
Lorna de Zengotita is simply amazing as Thelma, the mother who never saw this coming. She runs the gamut of emotions as she pleads with Jessie not to take her own life. One moment she’s completely calm and smiling, gossiping about her friend; the next minute she’s angry, pushing pots off a table and screaming at her child; and then she’s panicked, terrified at the thought of being alone, without her.
De Zengotita can switch moods in an instant, and I was transfixed by her wonderful performance.
Harmony Stempel, on the other hand, shows little emotion as Jessie, which makes perfect sense for this character who has given up on life. She is very cold and calculated, spending most of the night going over a detailed list of things her mother will need to know once she’s gone, such as when to order groceries and where to find things in the cabinets. She smiles occasionally as they reminisce and fall briefly into their normal routine, or shows a hint of anger toward her mother and her life, but always returns to the idea that she will die.
The entire play hinges on the relationship between Thelma and Jessie, and these actresses deliver. Not only do they convey the powerful emotions surrounding this dilemma, but they’re able to tell the story of their lives through snippets in the discussion. We learn all we need to know about why this is happening without explicitly being told, which adds to the feeling that the audience is peeking through their window at the worst possible time.
This production of “ ’Night Mother” is directed by Cora Stempel, mother of Harmony.
The director also notes that de Zengotita is her “very dear friend.” This small cast is obviously very close, and it shows on the stage.
“Sitting in on this intimate conversation will not have you whistling on your way out of the theater, but you will be deeply moved,” the director said.
I can’t help but agree.
The 1983 Pulitzer Prize-winning play, “ ’Night Mother,” is at The Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck Nov. 16-18, at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets: $22 for adults; $20 seniors. Call the box office at 845-876-3080 or go to www.centerforperformingarts.org.
Theater: ‘ ’Night Mother’
By Darryl Gangloff
A simple, matter-of-fact line transforms a normal evening at home into an intense discussion as a mother tries to understand her daughter’s thinking.
“I’m going to kill myself, Mama.”
The Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck is a perfect spot for “ ’Night Mother.” The stadium seating, which is close to the stage, gives the audience the opportunity to sit with the Cateses in their living room and kitchen, observing this powerful exchange between Thelma and her daughter, Jessie.
The set is impressive: a well-stocked kitchen (complete with a working sink), a couch with its comfortable blanket, the overflowing candy dishes — all of these details make it feel as though Thelma and Jessie really live there, which makes their plight even more heartbreaking.
The cast is comprised of two women, who kept me on the edge of my seat during the 90-minute play. (Thankfully there is no intermission, which would have distracted me out of this powerful drama.)
Lorna de Zengotita is simply amazing as Thelma, the mother who never saw this coming. She runs the gamut of emotions as she pleads with Jessie not to take her own life. One moment she’s completely calm and smiling, gossiping about her friend; the next minute she’s angry, pushing pots off a table and screaming at her child; and then she’s panicked, terrified at the thought of being alone, without her.
De Zengotita can switch moods in an instant, and I was transfixed by her wonderful performance.
Harmony Stempel, on the other hand, shows little emotion as Jessie, which makes perfect sense for this character who has given up on life. She is very cold and calculated, spending most of the night going over a detailed list of things her mother will need to know once she’s gone, such as when to order groceries and where to find things in the cabinets. She smiles occasionally as they reminisce and fall briefly into their normal routine, or shows a hint of anger toward her mother and her life, but always returns to the idea that she will die.
The entire play hinges on the relationship between Thelma and Jessie, and these actresses deliver. Not only do they convey the powerful emotions surrounding this dilemma, but they’re able to tell the story of their lives through snippets in the discussion. We learn all we need to know about why this is happening without explicitly being told, which adds to the feeling that the audience is peeking through their window at the worst possible time.
This production of “ ’Night Mother” is directed by Cora Stempel, mother of Harmony.
The director also notes that de Zengotita is her “very dear friend.” This small cast is obviously very close, and it shows on the stage.
“Sitting in on this intimate conversation will not have you whistling on your way out of the theater, but you will be deeply moved,” the director said.
I can’t help but agree.
The 1983 Pulitzer Prize-winning play, “ ’Night Mother,” is at The Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck Nov. 16-18, at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets: $22 for adults; $20 seniors. Call the box office at 845-876-3080 or go to www.centerforperformingarts.org.