Podcast Summary: "All Of It" - Episode: Betty Gilpin Steps In As New Mary In ‘Oh, Mary!’
Podcast Information:
- Title: All Of It
- Host: Alison Stewart
- Producer: WNYC
- Description: ALL OF IT is a show about culture and its consumers, engaging thinkers, doers, makers, and creators in conversations about the what and why of their work. The show aims to build a community around diverse perspectives, celebrating the rich cultural tapestry of New York City.
Episode Overview:
In this episode of All Of It, host Alison Stewart interviews actress Betty Gilpin about her role as Mary Todd Lincoln in the Broadway play 'Oh, Mary!'. The discussion delves into Gilpin’s journey into the role, her experiences on stage, the unique writing of the play, and her personal connection to the theater.
Introduction to Betty Gilpin’s Role (00:37 - 01:39)
Alison Stewart introduces Betty Gilpin, highlighting her previous rigorous roles, including nearly half a year filming American Primeval in New Mexico and three years portraying a 1970s female wrestler in GLOW. Despite her demanding schedule as a mother of two young children, Gilpin embraces the challenge of stepping into a role previously held by Cola Scola in 'Oh, Mary!'.
Key Points:
- Gilpin’s enthusiasm and readiness to tackle the demanding role.
- Audience reactions from Reddit praising Gilpin’s performance:
- “She’s a lunatic in the best possible way.”
- “So funny and unhinged. It didn’t disappoint.”
First Impressions of 'Oh, Mary!' (01:42 - 02:39)
Betty Gilpin shares her initial encounter with 'Oh, Mary!' while pregnant with her second daughter. She expresses admiration for the play's ability to encourage self-acceptance and authenticity.
Notable Quote:
“That's the best gift you can give your child is to just make them like themselves enough and feel comfortable enough in their own skin that they put out whatever is buried within them into the world.”
— Betty Gilpin [02:44]
Receiving the Role (02:39 - 03:29)
Gilpin recounts receiving the call to replace Cola Scola while she was filming a miniseries in Budapest about President James Garfield. The surreal moment of receiving the offer is depicted humorously with an image of Lincoln’s portrait with a rainbow, symbolizing the unexpected excitement and fear she felt.
Notable Quote:
“I just fell to the ground. I was so excited and terrified.”
— Betty Gilpin [02:44]
Transitioning into the Role (03:29 - 05:00)
Alison inquires about the questions Gilpin pondered before accepting the role. Gilpin reflects on the uniqueness of stepping into a one-person-like performance and the challenge of maintaining the play’s integrity.
Notable Quote:
“Cole’s performance was so incredible, but also their play is so incredible. They really wrote... the bones of it are really kind of faultless and provides this roadmap of, you know, a Blanche Dubois level tour de force for anyone to come in and try to knock it out of the park.”
— Betty Gilpin [03:39]
The Writing Behind 'Oh, Mary!' (05:00 - 06:31)
Gilpin discusses the collaborative writing process with Cole, emphasizing their shared love for blending intelligence with absurdity. She highlights the play’s ironic and sincere tones, which pay homage to theater and Old Hollywood while portraying complex female characters.
Notable Quote:
“Something so brilliant about the way that Cole writes and sees the world is that it's both, you know, ironic and arch and commentary and roast of things like theater and old Hollywood... But also, just when you think it's only commentary, only eye-rolling, they will hit you with sincerity out of nowhere and a sincere love for all of these things.”
— Betty Gilpin [05:09]
Character Insights: Mary Todd Lincoln (06:31 - 08:11)
Alison references Sam Pinkleton’s observation that the characters in 'Oh, Mary!' genuinely believe in their dialogue without snarkiness. Gilpin elaborates on Mary’s internal struggle and desire for the spotlight, contrasting her grandiose ambitions with her current constrained reality.
Notable Quote:
“She's supposed to be Judy Garland, not, you know, Nancy Pelosi's cat or whatever... she is in a fluorescently sober, quiet story about men in politics.”
— Betty Gilpin [06:56]
Embracing the Character’s Madness (08:11 - 10:47)
Gilpin embraces the eccentricity of Mary Todd Lincoln, drawing parallels to her own experiences in theater, including her studies in the Theater of the Absurd. She reflects on balancing over-the-top performance styles with subtlety, sharing anecdotes about her emotional connection to the role and backstage experiences.
Notable Quote:
“Mary's makeup should be like, a drunk former star found out a casting director was going to be at the Oval Office dinner tonight and then did her makeup in the dark. So I look absolutely insane.”
— Betty Gilpin [12:40]
Broadway Debut and Personal Connections (13:31 - 15:42)
Gilpin shares the emotional support from her father, an understudy in a 1978 production, emphasizing the generational connection to theater. She expresses her excitement and the surreal nature of landing a leading Broadway role, acknowledging Cole’s belief in her unique suitability for the character.
Notable Quote:
“This is not really my reality... I know that I have that whatever that thing is that Cole needed.”
— Betty Gilpin [14:38]
Future Aspirations and Closing Thoughts (15:42 - 17:09)
Looking ahead, Gilpin expresses her desire to continue performing on Broadway, reminiscing about her early inspirations in theater and the camaraderie backstage. She conveys heartfelt appreciation for the experience and teases the emotional conclusion of the play.
Notable Quote:
“I could see the back door creak open and a little light come through and I thought, oh, she's coming in right now. And you know, my throat caught and it was as if Madonna Obama was entering the room.”
— Betty Gilpin [09:13]
Conclusion:
Alison Stewart wraps up the episode by acknowledging Betty Gilpin’s impressive Broadway debut in 'Oh, Mary!', celebrating her dedication and the transformative nature of theater. The episode provides an intimate look into Gilpin’s artistic process, the collaborative spirit behind the play, and the vibrant cultural scene of New York City’s Broadway.
Final Remarks:
“Come see me be the weirdest possible person to the second mezzanine.”
— Betty Gilpin [14:38]
Notable Absences: As per instructions, advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content sections have been omitted from this summary to focus solely on the substantive content of the interview.
Timestamp Reference: All notable quotes and key points are referenced with their corresponding timestamps from the transcript to provide context and facilitate easy navigation for interested listeners.