''Marvin's Room'' is a play by the

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

writer

Scott McPherson Scott McPherson (October 13, 1959 Columbus, Ohio – November 7, 1992 Chicago) was an American playwright. Life He graduated from Ohio University. In 1981, he moved to Chicago, where he acted in ''The House of Blue Leaves'' and "The Normal Hea ...

. It tells the story of Bessie and her estranged sister, Lee, who confront a family crisis.

Background

The play is based upon McPherson's experiences with older relatives who lived in Florida. McPherson cared for his partner, the cartoonist and activist Daniel Sotomayor, who died from

AIDS Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a retrovirus. Following initial infection an individual m ...

. His experiences living in the darkest days of the AIDS epidemic influenced his writing. McPherson himself died in 1992 of AIDS at age 33.

Synopsis

Bessie, a strong-willed woman, takes care of her bedridden father and eccentric Aunt Ruth. After Bessie is diagnosed with

leukemia Leukemia ( also spelled leukaemia and pronounced ) is a group of blood cancers that usually begin in the bone marrow and result in high numbers of abnormal blood cells. These blood cells are not fully developed and are called ''blasts'' or ' ...

, her estranged sister, Lee, comes to visit and to be tested as a possible bone marrow donor for her sister. The reunion between the sisters is initially uncomfortable, aggravated by the difficult behavior of Lee's two sons. The two women eventually confront their shortcomings as sisters, reach out to each other, and arrive at an understanding about the importance of family.

Casts of major productions

Productions

''Marvin's Room'' premiered at the Goodman Theatre Studio in Chicago in 1990, directed by David Petrarca. It played at The Hartford Stage, opening November 1990. It ran

Off-Broadway An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. These theatres are smaller than Broadway theatres, but larger than off-off-Broadway theatres, which seat fewer tha ...

at Playwrights Horizons, opening on November 15, 1991, and closing on February 23, 1992. The play re-opened Off-Broadway at the Minetta Lane Theater in March 1992 and closed on September 6, 1992, directed by David Petraca. It played at the

Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (formally known as the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, and commonly referred to as the Kennedy Center) is the United States National Cultural Center, located on the Potom ...

in Washington, DC, from September 1992 to October 1992, directed by David Petrarca. It was performed at the Hampstead Theatre in London in 1993 and transferred to the West End at the Comedy Theatre for a short-run. It played in Los Angeles at the Tiffany Theater in 1994. A Broadway production ran at the

Roundabout Theatre Company The Roundabout Theatre Company is a leading non-profit theatre company based in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, affiliated with the League of Resident Theatres. History The company was founded in 1965 by Gene Feist, Michael Fried and Elizabet ...

at the

American Airlines Theatre The American Airlines Theatre, originally the Selwyn Theatre, is a Broadway theater at 227 West 42nd Street in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Built in 1918, it was designed by George Keister and developed by brothe ...

from June 8 to August 27, 2017. It was directed by Anne Kauffman. The cast included

Janeane Garofalo Janeane Marie Garofalo ( ; born September 28, 1964) is an American comedian, actress, and former co-host on the now-defunct Air America Radio's ''The Majority Report''. Garofalo began her career as a stand-up comedian and became a cast member on ...

, Lili Taylor, Jack DiFalco, and Celia Weston.

Film adaptation

The play was adapted as a film also called '' Marvin's Room'' by John Guare in 1996. Diane Keaton was nominated for the

Academy Award for Best Actress The Academy Award for Best Actress is an award presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is given to an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role in a film released that year. ...

for her performance as Bessie.Peter Marks
"Two Wrenching Dramas Find Unexpected New Lives"
''New York Times, December 8, 1996.

Awards and nominations

*1991-1992 Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actress - Laura Esterman (winner) *1992 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play - (winner) *1992

Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play is an annual award presented by Drama Desk in recognition of achievements in the theatre among Broadway, Off Broadway and Off-Off Broadway productions. The awards were established in 1955, with ...

- Laura Esterman (winner) *1992 Drama Critics' Circle Award Runner-Up, Best American Play (nomination)

References

External links

* * {{DramaDesk Play 1975–2000 1992 plays Drama Desk Award-winning plays Off-Broadway plays American plays adapted into films