'night, Mother
Encyclopedia
'Night, Mother is a 1983 play by Marsha Norman
about a daughter, Jessie, and her mother, Thelma (referred to as "Mama" in the play). The play opens with Jessie calmly telling Mama that by morning she will be dead, as she plans to commit suicide
that very evening (she makes this revelation all while nonchalantly organizing household items and preparing to do her mother's nails). The subsequent dialogue between Jessie and Mama slowly reveals her reasons for her decision, her life with Mama, and how thoroughly she has planned her own death, culminating in a disturbingyet unavoidableclimax.
Winner of the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
, the original production at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts
, starred Kathy Bates
as Jessie and Anne Pitoniak
as Mama. This production eventually made its way to Broadway, where it played at the John Golden Theatre
with the same cast. It received 4 Tony Award
nominations: Best Play, Best Actress in a Play (both Bates and Pitoniak) and Best Director (Tom Moore
).
The 1986 film version
of the same name starred Sissy Spacek
and Anne Bancroft
as daughter and mother, respectively. Marsha Norman
adapted her own play and wrote the screenplay. Tom Moore, who directed the play on Broadway, also directed the film. The film added more characters, whereas the play featured only two performers. The film received lukewarm reviews, though Bancroft received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress (Drama) in a Film.
A Broadway revival opened at the Royale Theatre on November 14, 2004 and closed on January 9, 2005 after 65 performances and 26 previews; it starred Edie Falco
and Brenda Blethyn
.
On March 12, 2010 the Mexican version titled "Buenas Noches, Mama" debuted starring Edith González
as "Jessie" and Rosa Maria Bianchi as "Thelma". The play has received rave reviews from critics and audiences and since its debut has had sold out shows.
Marsha Norman
Marsha Norman is an American playwright, screenwriter, and novelist. She received the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for her play night, Mother...
about a daughter, Jessie, and her mother, Thelma (referred to as "Mama" in the play). The play opens with Jessie calmly telling Mama that by morning she will be dead, as she plans to commit suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
that very evening (she makes this revelation all while nonchalantly organizing household items and preparing to do her mother's nails). The subsequent dialogue between Jessie and Mama slowly reveals her reasons for her decision, her life with Mama, and how thoroughly she has planned her own death, culminating in a disturbingyet unavoidableclimax.
Winner of the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
Pulitzer Prize for Drama
The Pulitzer Prize for Drama was first awarded in 1918.From 1918 to 2006, the Drama Prize was unlike the majority of the other Pulitzer Prizes: during these years, the eligibility period for the drama prize ran from March 2 to March 1, to reflect the Broadway 'season' rather than the calendar year...
, the original production at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
, starred Kathy Bates
Kathy Bates
Kathleen Doyle "Kathy" Bates is an American actress and director.After several small roles in film and television, Bates rose to prominence with her performance in Misery , for which she won both the Academy Award for Best Actress and a Golden Globe...
as Jessie and Anne Pitoniak
Anne Pitoniak
Anne Pitoniak was an American actress. She was nominated twice for Broadway's Tony Award: as Best Actress in 1983, for night, Mother, and as Best Actress in 1994, for a revival of William Inge's Picnic.-Early life:Pitoniak was born in Westfield, Massachusetts, the daughter of Sophie and John...
as Mama. This production eventually made its way to Broadway, where it played at the John Golden Theatre
John Golden Theatre
The John Golden Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 252 West 45th Street in midtown-Manhattan. Designed in a Moorish style along with the adjacent Royale Theatre by architect Herbert J. Krapp for Irwin Chanin, it opened as the Theatre Masque on February 24 1927 with the play Puppets of Passion...
with the same cast. It received 4 Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
nominations: Best Play, Best Actress in a Play (both Bates and Pitoniak) and Best Director (Tom Moore
Tom Moore (director)
Tom Moore is an American theatre, television, and film director.Born in Meridian, Mississippi, Moore graduated with a BA from Purdue University where he received the alumni distinction as an Old Master. Moore began his career in the late 1960s, directing Loot at Brandeis University and Oh, What a...
).
The 1986 film version
'night, Mother (film)
'night, Mother is a 1986 American drama film written by Marsha Norman. The film, which stars Sissy Spacek and Anne Bancroft, is based on Norman's Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name. It was entered into the 37th Berlin International Film Festival....
of the same name starred Sissy Spacek
Sissy Spacek
Sissy Spacek is an American actress and singer. She came to international prominence for her for role as Carrie White in Brian De Palma's 1976 horror film Carrie for which she earned her first Academy Award nomination...
and Anne Bancroft
Anne Bancroft
Anne Bancroft was an American actress associated with the Method acting school, which she had studied under Lee Strasberg....
as daughter and mother, respectively. Marsha Norman
Marsha Norman
Marsha Norman is an American playwright, screenwriter, and novelist. She received the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for her play night, Mother...
adapted her own play and wrote the screenplay. Tom Moore, who directed the play on Broadway, also directed the film. The film added more characters, whereas the play featured only two performers. The film received lukewarm reviews, though Bancroft received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress (Drama) in a Film.
A Broadway revival opened at the Royale Theatre on November 14, 2004 and closed on January 9, 2005 after 65 performances and 26 previews; it starred Edie Falco
Edie Falco
Edith "Edie" Falco is an American television, film and stage actress, known for her roles in Oz as Diane Wittlesey, as Carmela Soprano on the HBO series The Sopranos, and as the titular character on the Showtime series Nurse Jackie...
and Brenda Blethyn
Brenda Blethyn
Brenda Anne Blethyn, OBE is an English actress who has worked in theatre, television and film. Blethyn has received two Academy Award nominations, two SAG Award nominations, two Emmy Award nominations and three Golden Globe Award nominations, winning one...
.
On March 12, 2010 the Mexican version titled "Buenas Noches, Mama" debuted starring Edith González
Edith González
Edith González Fuentes is a Mexican actress and dancer.- Personal life :González has a daughter, Constanza , whose father is the Mexican politician Santiago Creel. Edith has worked for hispanic television networks, such as, Televisa, Telemundo, and TV Azteca...
as "Jessie" and Rosa Maria Bianchi as "Thelma". The play has received rave reviews from critics and audiences and since its debut has had sold out shows.