Motherhood is introduced to women very early in life. When you’re young, you play house and talk about your future, maybe even picking names for your future children. The older you get, the more complicated it gets. Can we afford children? Can we afford childcare? What’s your birth plan? Will you bottle or breastfeed? It feels like every choice can be picked apart no matter how much you try. Molly Smith Metzler saw these issues taking place and from that Cry It Out was born.
Cry It Out follows three mothers, Jessie, Lina, and Adrienne, whose lives intertwined despite having different backgrounds and styles of parenting. Through their interactions and a little bit of humor, we delve into the world of motherhood, the good, the bad, and the ugly.
The show takes place in the adjoining backyard of Jessie and Lina, making for a fun and intimate setting. There are so many times throughout I felt like I was a part of their group, joining them on one of their coffee dates and getting the buzz on what’s going on in town. In their cozy backyard, I get a glimpse into Jessie and Lina’s friendship. Carissa Meagher (Jessie) and Luisa Frasconi (Lina) do an amazing job portraying their characters. They have me convinced that they are best friends in real life. Jessie’s gentle demeanor helps to balance Lina’s slightly rough around-the-edges persona to create a beautiful friendship.
Their conversations range from breastfeeding to going back to work and more. They are funny but have deeper moments like how isolating it can be to have a baby, how hard it is to go back to work, and how to balance your personal life and having a baby. While I do not have a child, these are the very things I have thought about, and being reminded of it left me with chills.
While the play has many laughs, Adrienne brings in some harsh realities and a much different perspective. Adrienne is introduced after her husband, Mitchell, comes to Jessie and Lina as he feels she is not bonding with their new baby girl. Adrienne attends one of the coffee dates, but is very clearly uncomfortable and only there to appease her husband. After leaving, more events unfold that lead to a boiling point as Adrienne confronts Jessie (while she is egging her house). Adrienne loves her daughter, spends time with her, but she wants to continue her business. She is doing the best she can but for her husband, and society, that isn’t enough. She isn’t depressed, she isn’t sad, she is angry at the world for dictating what motherhood should be and judging her when she doesn’t present that.
Cry It Out is a beautiful depiction of the challenges parents face. Mothers are judged for every choice they make; they are seen as cold-hearted for wanting a career or “not a feminist” if they want to stay home with their children. The relationships people have with motherhood can be so complex and it is important to have a show that gets into the raw and ugly truth behind it. If you are anything like me, you will likely cry it out multiple times while watching. So grab your tissues and make sure to see Cry It Out at Capital Stage now through June 2. Learn more here.
English
Chinese (Simplified)
Filipino
French
German
Hmong
Italian
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish
Vietnamese
