Wellis a play byLisa Kron.It concerns relationships between mothers and daughters and "wellness", among other themes. It ranOff-Broadwayin 2004 and then onBroadwayin 2006.
| Well | |
|---|---|
 WellPlaybill | |
| Written by | Lisa Kron |
| Date premiered | March 16, 2004 |
| Place premiered | Joseph Papp Public Theater |
Production history
editWellpremieredOff-Broadwayat theJoseph Papp Public Theater,opening on March 16, 2004 (previews), and running to May 16, 2004. Directed byLeigh Silverman,the cast starred Lisa Kron andJayne Houdyshellas Lisa's mother, Ann Kron.[1]The Public Theater production garnered "Best of 2004" lists inThe New York Timesamong other publications.
Wellnext ran at theAmerican Conservatory TheaterinSan Franciscoin February and March 2005, with Kron and Houdyshell.[2]
The play opened onBroadwayat theLongacre Theatreon March 10, 2006 in previews, officially on March 30, and closed on May 14, 2006 after 23 previews and 52 performances. Directed by Leigh Silverman, Lisa Kron and Jayne Houdyshell repeated their roles from the Off-Broadway production.[3][4]According toPlaybill,it "opened to some of the best reviews for any play this season."[5][6]
The play was performed by theHuntington Theatre Companyat theBoston UniversityTheater in March 2007, with Kron and Mary Pat Gleason as her mother,[7]and at theOregon Shakespeare Festivalin their 2010 season, running February to June 2010.
Wellpremiered in London at the Trafalgar Studios 2, from 4 September 2008 (previews) to 27 September 2008 and transferred to theApollo Theatre,London, from 29 December 2008 (previews), 30 December 2008 (official opening) and closed 24 January 2009 after 32 performances. The cast starredNatalie Caseyas Lisa Kron andSarah Milesas her mother, with direction byEve Leigh.[8]
Overview
editLisa Kron, as herself, presents her play as a work in progress, about mothers and daughters, "illness" and "wellness". The character of Lisa begins the "play": "This play is not about my mother and me."[9]Kron focuses on her family "medical history and the Lansing, Michigan neighborhood where she grew up to knit together issues of health and illness both in the individual (her chronically unwell mother) and in a community."[1]Ann Kron, Lisa's mother, is a semi-invalid. As the "play" progresses, Lisa tries to discuss her past in Michigan and her mother. However, Ann corrects Lisa's version of their past, and the other actors leave their assigned roles and instead talk with Ann about her life.
Wellis "Lisa Kron's journey into her past. It's about her mother, her well-being and the alternate universe your parents live in where your therapy has no power."[10]ProducerElizabeth Ireland McCannnoted that the play "is hard to define. How do you pigeonhole something that is singular? How do you explain that Lisa Kron is playing herself in what she bills (as she reads note cards on stage) a 'theatrical exploration'?...'That is, I think, always a bit of problem withWell…it's a very hard play to describe.' "[5]
Critical reception
editBen Brantley,in his review forThe New York Times,wrote "What makes 'Well' much more than a clever, deconstructed theatrical riff is the way it keeps surprising itself with glimpses of an emotional depth, both murky and luminous, that goes beyond any tidy narrative."[6]
Elyse Sommer, in her review forCurtainUp,wrote: "This being a serio-comedy, the final mother-daughter confrontation ends on a satisfying note. While the play would have benefited from some trimming of the hospital and neighborhood scenes, director Leigh Silverman otherwise keeps all three plot elements bouncing along -- Lisa's narrative, the scenes acted out from her play and the play-interruptus business courtesy of the well-meaning mother."[1]
Awards and nominations
editKron (Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play)[11]and Houdyshell (Best Featured Actress in a Play) received 2006Tony Awardnominations.[4]Houdyshell also was nominated for theDrama Desk Award,Outer Critics Circle AwardandLucille Lortel Award,[12]and won theObie Award,Outstanding Performance. The play was nominated for the Outer Critics Circle Award as Outstanding Off-Broadway Play.[13]
References
edit- ^abcSommer, Elyse (March 26, 2004)."Well,aCurtainUpReview ".CurtainUp.
- ^Connema, Richard (February 22, 2005)."Lisa Kron's Well is Intriguing".Talkin' Broadway.
- ^"Well".Internet Broadway Database.RetrievedMay 18,2023.
- ^ab"Wellon Broadway ".Playbill Vault.Archived fromthe originalon August 29, 2014.RetrievedMay 17,2014.
- ^abSimonson, Robert(May 8, 2006)."WellRuns Dry: Lisa Kron Play to Close on Broadway May 14 ".Playbill.RetrievedMay 18,2023.
- ^abBrantley, Ben (March 31, 2006)."Lisa Kron's 'Well' Opens on Broadway, With Mom Keeping Watch".The New York Times.RetrievedMay 18,2023.
- ^Portantiere, Michael (February 1, 2007)."Lisa Kron to RepriseWellat Boston's Huntington Theatre Company ".TheaterMania.
- ^"Well".thisistheatre.Archived fromthe originalon May 17, 2014.RetrievedMay 16,2014.
- ^"Well".lisakron.org.RetrievedMay 17,2014.
- ^Jones, Kenneth; Simonson, Robert (September 26, 2005)."Well,Kron's Play About a Mother, a Daughter and a Precarious Fourth Wall, Has Broadway Plans ".Playbill.
- ^Simonson, Robert (May 16, 2006)."Be Yourself: Tony Nominations Recognize Rivera and Kron's Performances as Rivera and Kron".Playbill.RetrievedMay 18,2023.
- ^Gans, Andrew (October 26, 2008)."Well's Houdyshell to Join N.Y.Wicked".Playbill.RetrievedMay 18,2023.
- ^"Well".Internet Off-Broadway Database.RetrievedMay 18,2023.
External links
edit- Wellat theInternet Broadway Database
- Playbill article
- The Playwright-Working in the Theatre Seminarvideo atAmerican Theatre Wing.org,February 2006
- Well on Broadway