The new play by Matthew Lombardo titled “Conversations with Mother” now playing Off-Broadway at Theatre 555, is a lighthearted and comical evening of entertainment, mostly due to the extremely talented cast. This eighty-five minute two-hander stars Caroline Aaron and Matt Doyle, who make use of their perfect timing and comedic skills to bring as many laughs as possible to the mediocre script. The conversations that take place over six decades seem more like an exposition of the codependent relationship between a mother and her gay son and only exist to provide a source for the endless and repetitious one-liners that tend to become tiresome. This fault in the writing makes the audience yearn for some depth to the characters, exposing who they are, and why they fall into so many similar recurring situations, all ending in the same manner. The comedy and witty repartee come at the expense of some serious issues that the son is facing throughout his childhood, that continue through his adult life without resolution. It is a mere example of the old cliché, that you must hit rock bottom before you can climb back up and save yourself.

The conversations begin in the sixties with phone calls from Bobby (Matt Doyle), made to his mother Maria (Caroline Aaron), wanting to come home from camp. He is not successful until the last call, when he asks permission to spend the night in his counselor’s van, who invited him for a sleepover with snacks and candy. Thus begins the episodes of careless behavior that always lead to trouble in Bobby’s life. His inferior judgement is of no consequence, since a simple phone call will always bring mom to the rescue, fixing the problem. It certainly seems to become her sole mission in life but does little to convince the audience it is for Bobby’s well-being, rather than her own self-esteem. The only reference to Bobby’s father is when he dies and the effect this has on Maria. Where does all the money used to constantly bail out Bobby come from? Did Bobby have a good relationship with his father and siblings? Does he constantly make wrong decisions for attention and sympathy? The conversations become more routine and always fixed without resolution until Bobby ends up in Rehab, but once again there is Maria by his side, paying for the ride and enjoying the facility more than Bobby. It all becomes a vicious cycle polluted with one-liners and running gags.

The play seems more like a series of scenes from a sitcom and certainly, when taken on the surface, a light comedy with the sole purpose of making the audience laugh. This is where it succeeds as the audience seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves at the performance I attended. Ms. Aaron and Mr. Doyle can overcome the shortcomings of the material and deliver the comedic goods with ease and perfection. Due to their exceptional talents, even the duds will make you chuckle. Right up to the last sentimental (somewhat maudlin) last seen, Mr. Lombardo cannot help throwing in one more zinger into the conversation before the lights come down. In conclusion “Conversations with Mother” is not a great play, lacking substance, any form of dramatic arc or character depth, but as a series of comedy sketches it provides an enjoyable evening of theatre.