Susan Sarandon Shines in Tracy Letts' Portait of Embattled Womanhood in "Mary Page Marlowe"

Strategic Insights -

The Old Vic in London is currently running a production of Tracy Letts' play "Mary Page Marlowe," which premiered in 2016 at the Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago. The play tells the story of Mary Page Marlowe, a woman who navigates a life of troubled relationships, alcoholism, and struggles with parenthood through 11 nonchronological fragments. The production, directed by Matthew Warchus, features Susan Sarandon in her London stage debut as the oldest Mary Page, alongside Andrea Riseborough, who plays the character in her 30s.

Key Takeaways:

  • The play explores the life of Mary Page Marlowe through five actors playing the character at different stages of her life, showcasing her struggles with relationships, addiction, and parenthood.
  • The production features Susan Sarandon, making her London stage debut, as the oldest Mary Page, and Andrea Riseborough, a 2023 Oscar nominee, as the 30-year-old Mary Page.
  • The play begins with Riseborough's Mary Page in middle age, informing her children of her intention to leave their father and move to Kentucky, at the prompting of her restlessness and ennui.
  • The play's portrayal of Mary Page's life is non-linear, with the audience seeing the character at various stages of her life, including adolescence, 20s, 30s, and old age.
  • The production's set, designed by Rob Howell, features a gloomy, abstract arrangement of tables, stools, and props that evoke a sense of historical time.
  • Riseborough's performance as the weary, washed-out Mary Page is a standout, capturing the character's emotional struggles and anchoring the production.

Statistics:

  • The play premiered in 2016 at the Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago.
  • The production is running at the Old Vic in London through November 1, 2023.
  • Susan Sarandon, making her London stage debut, appears in only three scenes as the oldest Mary Page.
  • Andrea Riseborough, a 2023 Oscar nominee, plays the character in her 30s.
  • The play features five actors playing the title character at different stages of her life.

Sources:

  • "Mary Page Marlowe" premiered in 2016 at the Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago, but the exact date is not specified in the article.
  • The play is running at the Old Vic in London through November 1, 2023 (no specific time listed in the source).
  • Susan Sarandon is making her London stage debut in "Mary Page Marlowe" at the Old Vic.
  • Andrea Riseborough, a 2023 Oscar nominee, plays the character in her 30s.
  • The article cites the New York Times as the source of the photograph of Susan Sarandon in the play.