Playwright Clare Barron memorably captures the universal, bittersweet experience of being an aging parent, of being an adult child of an aging parent, the struggle for privacy within families, authenticity and intimacy in family relationships, escapism…and so much more in her latest play You Got Older, currently running at the revamped Cherry Lane Theater in the West Village.
Starring Alia Shawkat (Mae) and Peter Friedman (Dad) as a daughter-father duo in the throes of serious life changes, and suddenly living together after Mae is laid off and her father is attempting to beat cancer. Offering moments of hilarity, deep insight, and pathos, there isn’t a dull scene in the entire show. With a minimal set, You Got Older captures multiple locations and seasons and segues smoothly from one to the next.
Alia Shawkat may look familiar from Arrested Development, Search Party, and Severance, and Peter Friedman may ring a bell from Succession, The Savages, Safe, and numerous other stage productions.
Rounding out the cast is Paul Cooper as a type of Marlboro Man cowboy who appears in Mae’s fantasies to help her cope, Caleb Joshua Eberhardt as Mae’s tryst friend, Misha Brooks as her brother Matthew, Nadine Malouf as her sister Hannah, and Nina White as her sister Jenny. The sibling dynamics ring true, highlighting its unique mix of familiarity with separate distinguishing characteristics.
There is much to relate to in this play, and it’s likely you’ll leave the theater with a lump in your throat, tearing up. Unpredictable and avoiding cliches, this is a play that’s brilliantly written and performed.
See it – you’ll love it. Find tickets HERE.
