World Premiere of The Mighty Maisie, a new play by local playwright Bella Poynton, directed by Kelli Bocock-Natale, presented by American Repertory Theater of WNY, starring Marie Costa, Emily Yancey, Maryna Seufert, Mariangela Mercurio, Anthony Grande, Scott Gattie, and Andrew Zuccari. Running from February 6th through February 22nd, Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 pm and Saturdays at 5:00 pm. Box office opens a half hour before the show starts. Located at 545 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo, NY 14222. To purchase tickets online, go to artofwny.org.
THUMBNAIL SKETCH: Maisie Clark lives in a trailer park in Western New York, and something strange is happening there. The porch of Maisie’s trailer home has somehow been transformed into an impenetrable haven for those in need. People who may be harmful to Maisie and her friends cannot step onto the porch—think of an invisible fence or force field.
A young woman named Penny stumbles onto Maisie’s porch after a horrific night at a local bar. Maisie decides to aid Penny, just as she does with her friends June and Zanna, who also reside in the trailer park. Her new powers come in handy—not only when helping out these women, but they also set off a chain of events that will forever alter their lives.
RUNTIME: 2 HOURS, ONE 10-MINUTE INTERMISSION
THE PLAYERS, THE PLAY, THE PRODUCTION: This was my first time seeing an ART production and my first time seeing a Bella Poynton play. I am happy to report that it was worth braving the frigid cold and ridiculously strong wind, coupled with deadly sheets of slippery ice that replaced the sidewalks of Elmwood Ave. leading to the theater. Once inside, we were warmly greeted by ART founder and technical director Matthew LaChiusa. The set was simple and effective—the porch felt like another character in this evocative and engrossing new play.
We first meet Maisie Clark, played by Marie Hasselback-Costa. Ms. Hasselback-Costa is new to me—this is the first time I have had the pleasure of seeing her on stage. She plays Maisie with an earthy, warm, and very likable quality. Maisie is a nurturer and an empath. From the start of the play, when she encounters a young woman named Penny (Maryna Seufert), who has suffered through an abusive encounter at the nearby bar, you can feel the protective nature that inhabits Marie’s portrayal of Maisie. It was a beautiful, somewhat subtle performance compared to the other actors, who had characters that outwardly demanded more attention. Ms. Hasselback-Costa slowly draws you in, revealing a little bit at a time of her “secret” porch powers and how they came to be.
Maryna Seufert plays Penny, a young woman from Batavia who traveled by bus for over an hour and a half to meet a Hinge date at a bar. I have been fortunate enough to see Ms. Seufert in a few productions in the past—she brings authenticity to her roles. Penny (Seufert) is skeptical about accepting help from Maisie. In Ms. Seufert’s very capable hands, she conveys the vulnerability in Penny, who was once hopeful and determined to find love. She also channels the shame, anger, resentment, and betrayal that come when the revelation that Mr. Right has quickly become Mr. Wrong. Penny’s initial skepticism of Maisie and her efforts to comfort her felt warranted and real.
Mariangela Mercurio is June Rizzo, a local waitress and good friend of Maisie who seeks refuge from her jerk of a husband at Maisie’s trailer. Ms. Mercurio, as June, is effortlessly natural. She finds a good balance of humor and drama in the character. June is not living up to her potential and is hiding from life and her once-adoring husband, who is now a first-class creep. You can feel the ache of pain that Mercurio, as June reveals—she knows she deserves better but is very afraid of change.
We also meet Zanna, played with great zeal by Emily Yancey. I always enjoy seeing Miss Yancey on stage, be it in musicals or plays. Yancey, as Gabby, practically steals the show. She goes full out, playing a flirty, fun, quirky woman. I loved the character’s unpredictable nature and watching the other character’s reactions to her and the audience’s. This is a great role for Ms. Yancey, and she is serving it well.
Ms. Poynton has written four very different women. You get a great sense of who each one is and what their hopes, dreams, and fears are. Watching them rise above the obstacles life has presented them—individually and collectively—was very satisfying as they elevate themselves to a better place.
There are three more characters in this piece, all played by men. First is the sheepishly adorable Scott Gattie as the likable mailman, Dave. Dave has a crush on Zanna, and in one scene that the two share, both Yancey (Zanna) and Gattie (Dave) could not be more awkwardly perfect. Next is Andrew Zuccari as Rizzo, the abusive husband of June. Mr. Zuccari totally succeeds at being unlikable and jealous of the friendship between Maisie and June. I would also like to bring attention to the physicality that Mr. Zuccari brings to his role—as he attempts several times to step on the porch and is unable to do so, it is a feat to witness. Finally, Anthony Grande plays Briggs, a police officer. Mr. Grande has the villain down cold—he, as Briggs, is scary, imposing, and a formidable foe to our four female heroes.
Director Kelli Bocock-Natale brings Bella’s words to life. This play moves briskly, and she has assembled a company of actors that more than rise to the challenges of the highs and lows they experience. Overall, this is a well-crafted play with fascinating characters that keep you interested, with enough twists and turns to be completely satisfied with the outcome and leave you asking some questions. I don’t want to share too much more because it would ruin it for the theatergoer. Get your tickets and escape for two hours into Mighty Maisie’s world.