What can you hope for when your child is chronically ill? Mary Jane, written by Amy Herzog, follows a mother on her journey with her sick child. From hospital to home and back again, this is the story of a single mother in an impossible family situation.
The play is semi-autobiographical and based on Herzog’s daughter Frances, who was born with nemaline myopathy and died at age 11 in 2023. Mary Jane had its world premiere at Yale Repertory Theatre in 2017, winning the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Play in 2018. It opened on Broadway in April 2024 with Rachel McAdams in the titular role. It was nominated for four Tony Awards including Best Play.
After seeing the production on Broadway, Eloise Snape obtained the rights to the play. With Mi Todo Productions, she co-produces and stars at the Old Fitz for its Australian premiere.
After Alex is born premature at 25 weeks and 4 days, his mother Mary Jane is thrown into overdrive caring for her child in whatever way she can. She has round-the-clock carers, some good, others not so good. Sometime after being discharged, Alex has a seizure and has to return to the hospital, accompanied by Mary Jane. Whilst there, she meets all sorts of people from all walks of life. Together they contemplate love, reality and hope in the way that only mothers can.
Director Rachel Chant lends the play a quiet, reflective, tender tone. She has gone to great lengths to present the story in its most authentic form, giving the actors and designers space to fill the room.
Snape’s portrayal of Mary Jane is layered with detail, her emotional state in each scene carefully curated. The audience waits for Mary Jane to crack under the weight of the pressure. But she never does. It’s a true testament to Snape that she gives us just enough of a peek behind the curtain to her inner world that we know and understand her so deeply, without ever having been in her situation. Her breaking point comes in a scene with the musical therapist which is beautifully acted with Isabel Burton.
Rounding out the incredible cast of women are Di Adams as Ruthie / Tenkei, Sophie Bloom as Brianne / Chaya and Janine Watson Sherry / Dr Toros. With very few scenes, each performer delivers fully-formed characters who gently pull on the heartstrings. It is clear who they are and how they got there. They could each be the main characters of their own play with their version of how they ended up in this hospital.
Designer Soham Apte’s set seamlessly transitions from a small apartment to a hospital waiting room to Alex’s bedside. Every moment between scenes is shaped by evocative sound design by Clare Hennessey and lighting design by Izzy Morrissey and Luna Ng.
This caring community of supportive women, both the creatives and the characters themselves, makes Mary Jane undeniably memorable. The play explores the challenges and triumphs of a mother as she navigates the realities of caregiving. It has made me realise how lucky I am to still have my younger brother after he went through something similar to Alex at a young age.
I cannot recommend Mary Jane enough. You will find hope in unexpected places and you will learn how deep a mother’s love really is. Take a box of tissues because from the seizure scene onwards there was not a dry eye in the house.
Mary Jane is presented by Mi Todo Productions and runs until 15 June at the Old Fitz Theatre, 129 Dowling Street Woolloomooloo, NSW 2011.
Tickets: https://www.oldfitztheatre.com.au/book-now
Website: https://www.oldfitztheatre.com.au/mary-jane
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/oldfitztheatre/
Photo credits: Phil Erbacher
