Mamaí’s ‘The Testament of Mary’ steps too gently

 

Bob Abelman

Cleveland Jewish News, The News Herald, The Morning Journal

Member, International Association of Theatre Critics

 

 

The voice of Mary – the Mother of God, the Madonna, the Blessed Virgin in accordance to Christian belief – is conspicuously absent from the New Testament. 

 

But the grieving, flesh and blood mother of the historical Christ is given ample opportunity to speak in Irish author Colm Tóibín’s “The Testament of Mary,” a 2012 novella that was turned into the 80-minute monologue that is currently being staged by Mamaí Theatre.

 

And, as she states at the play’s opening, “I remember everything.”

 

At the end of the play, Mary asks “was it worth it?”  If this same question was applied to Mamaí’s production, the answer would be yes.

 

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