'Motherhood Out Loud' is too loud
(L-R) Saidah Arrika Ekulona, Mary Bacon and Randy Graff in the New York premiere of the new play, 'Motherhood Out Loud', conceived by Susan R. Rose and Joan Stein presented by Primary Stages. Directed by Lisa Peterson, the cast also features James Lecesne. Now in performance through October 29th at 59E59 Theaters. Credit: James Leynse
The premise has potential. Ask 14 playwrights -- some famous and some less famous women, plus one gay man -- to create sketches about the life-cycle of motherhood. Alas, the result -- "Motherhood Out Loud" -- is seldom less familiar and banal and infantilizing than almost any sitcom on the subject. Even a hardworking quartet of actors, led by the always-wonderful Randy Graff, can't keep this from threatening naptime.
And, since Lisa Peterson's simple revue-style staging doesn't identify the playwrights, we can't tell without a program who wrote the better scenes. The animated drawings, however, are very sweet.
WHERE Primary Stages, 59 E. 59th St.
INFO $66; 212-279-4200; primarystages.org.
BOTTOM LINE Loud, but not illuminating
