A heartfelt family narrative comes to life on stage in Conversations with Mother, a semi-autobiographical play by Matthew Lombardo that explores the complexities of love and identity.
For playwright Matthew Lombardo, the relationship between a mother and son is nothing short of special. But when that bond is combined with the added layer of being a gay son, it becomes truly extraordinary – especially when Italian culture comes into play.
Matthew Lombardi is an American playwright, composer, and screenwriter.
Born in New Jersey, he began his career writing for Off-Broadway productions.
His work often explores themes of identity, community, and social justice.
Lombardi's plays have been performed at various venues, including the Public Theater and the National Black Theatre.
He has also composed music for several stage productions.
Lombardi's work is known for its unique blend of music, drama, and poetry.
The Source of Inspiration
Lombardo’s latest opus, Conversations with Mother, is semi-autobiographical in nature. It draws heavily from his own experiences growing up as a gay man and the unique relationship he shared with his mother. The show will run at Theater 555 from February 26 to March 31.
‘My father died when I was 33,’ Lombardo recalls, ‘and I think, in a way, I became my mother’s husband.’ He explains that this co-dependency was not unhealthy but rather a beautiful aspect of their relationship. ‘People forget that it’s wonderful to have someone who is so hands-on in your life,’ he says.
A Conversation Born from Life
The idea for Conversations with Mother came about 10 years ago when Lombardo had one of those deep conversations with his mother that left him wondering if others would believe the dialogue that passed between them. He decided to test it out by posting their conversations on Facebook, where they garnered a significant response.
Bringing the Story to Life
The show features Caroline Aaron as Maria Collavechio, the matriarchal role, and Matt Doyle as her son Bobby, aka Lombardo himself. The two actors play back-and-forth verbal tennis that is frequently funny and often poignant. ‘All of my actresses have been very collaborative,’ Lombardo notes, ‘and working with Caroline Aaron has been fantastic.’
A Family Affair
Lombardo’s mother, who is 95 and lives with his sister, saw a reading of Conversations years ago and was touched by how the plot points and banter mirrored her own conversations with her son. Plans are underway to get her to see the finished production at Theater 555, where Lombardo believes the audience will experience the intimacy of the show firsthand.
Buy Tickets Here
- observer.com | Love Beyond Labels: A Familys Story Told on Stage
