
The new play from playwright Bubba Weiler is about a grieving woman who begins to wonder if she ever really knew her husband at all.
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Alison Stewart
This is all of it on wnyc. I'm Alison Stewart. Coming up later this hour, Spike Lee's new film, Highest to Lowest, opens tomorrow. It's a reinterpretation of a classic noir with some very New York spin to it. Spike Lee will be our guest. That's in about 25 minutes. Now let's get things started with a play that just got extended. The new play, well, I'll Let yout Go, is a portrait of a marriage after death separates husband and wife. Maggie and Marv are a Midwestern couple living in an old farmhouse. They are part of the fabric of a community. Marv is a lawyer and active in the church. Maggie is a teacher. But one day, Marv is killed in a tragic shooting. While Maggie is at home grieving, she receives an assortment of visitors. A struggling cousin, a funeral home director, her best friend and brother in law. And then there's a woman who won't stop calling her who seems to know something about Marv's death. According to the community, he died a hero. But after all, what was Marv doing with a very young woman at a community college? Well, I'll Let yout Go was written by playwright Bubba Wyler. It stars Quincy Tyler Bernstein as Maggie and Michael Chernis as Marv as the show's narrator. It's running now at the Space at Irondale in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, where it was announced this morning that it has been extended due to popular demand until September 12th. Bubba, Quincy and Michael, welcome to the studio. Thank you for being here.
Michael Chernis
Thank you.
Bubba Wyler
Thanks for having us.
Quincy Tyler Bernstein
Thank you for having us.
Alison Stewart
So, Bubba, you're a young man, a young playwright. You're an actor. Why did you write about a Midwestern couple?
Bubba Wyler
Well, I'm from the Midwest. I'm from a town called Aurora just outside Chicago. And, you know, I think I was thinking a lot about my family and my community. I started writing this play during COVID and a lot of people were dying and we were trying to find ways to grieve while all being separated from each other. And I think that that process sort of highlighted all of the, all of the strange ways that, that we mourn and the ways that we try so hard to be there for each other and help each other process grief and how it so often falls short. And so, yeah, that was sort of my jumping off point.
Alison Stewart
How did you know you wanted to play Maggie?
Quincy Tyler Bernstein
I read the play once, I read it again, and then I knew that I wanted to do it. I, I, it came to me at a time in my life When I was grieving myself, I was in a very sort of dark period. And it really spoke to me and I thought maybe I could use my own grief to, like, make something. And this seemed like a great vehicle for that.
Alison Stewart
Were you able to.
Quincy Tyler Bernstein
I. I think so, yeah.
Alison Stewart
How about for you, Michael?
Michael Chernis
I was blown away when I read the play. I wasn't looking to do a play.
Alison Stewart
You've been busy.
Michael Chernis
I've had a few irons in the fire elsewhere and the play was sent to me and I just was so moved by it that I couldn't say no. And then my dear friend Quincy was attached to play Maggie, so that kind of made it a no brainer.
Alison Stewart
What would you say Quincy was the state of Marv and Maggie's marriage before he died?
Quincy Tyler Bernstein
Oh, the state of our marriage, I think, was, I would say, like a typical marriage. You know, we'd been together for a long time and we had our routines and we were pillars of the community. I think Maggie, she was, and continues to this day, experiences a lot of doubt in her life, in her faith. And as you know, that perhaps bled into her relationship as well. Yeah, but I think it was a typical marriage, Bubba.
Alison Stewart
Who came first, Marv or Maggie?
Bubba Wyler
They came together. They're inseparable in my brain. I mean, Maggie was the first name I put on a page, for sure.
Alison Stewart
Interesting.
Michael Chernis
Yeah, interesting.
Quincy Tyler Bernstein
Good choice.
Alison Stewart
The narration is about the ups and downs of the marriage.
Unnamed Audience Member
Michael.
Alison Stewart
Quite a bit.
Unnamed Audience Member
What is your narration trying to convey to the audience about this relationship between this pair?
Michael Chernis
So that's a great question. And I feel like I'm learning still every night in front of an audience. It's been a unique experience. I've never played a character like this who kind of lives outside of the play. And my main scene partner in the play is the audience. And so every night that's a different shifting, living, breathing organism depending on who's in the house. And this sort of idea that we've settled on is that this narrator entity is here to make sure that this story gets told in sort of the right way and that the essential pieces of information are told so that Maggie and the town writ large can learn the truth about what happened to Marv and how he died so that he can pass on and. And Maggie can have closure and we can finally grieve.
Unnamed Audience Member
Bubba. So many people, myself included, were reminded.
Alison Stewart
About our town as they watched the film. I mean, watch the play. And with this narrator especially, that's what.
Unnamed Audience Member
Really catches your attention.
Alison Stewart
What did you want to have this.
Unnamed Audience Member
Sort of Omniscient narrator inform the audience about. Michael's explained that he wanted to sort of like, guide you, but what did.
Alison Stewart
You want the narrator to do?
Bubba Wyler
I was really hoping people would. Would think about Our Town when they saw this play. It's. It's my favorite play ever. I think it's one of the most beautiful things ever written. I saw a production of. I saw David Cromer's production of Our Town when I was a teenager in Chicago and then again in New York, and it sort of changed my life and moved me so much. And I had been thinking a lot about Our Town. You know, I started this play during 2020 and I was missing community, and there was a lot of political tension and anger, and I was thinking a lot about Grover's Corners and sort of a simpler time and all the good people in Grover's Corners who are just sort of trying to go about their life. And I think that Americans are still that way. When I. When I meet Americans face to face, that's. That's what I believe is true about them, that they're. They're good, decent people just trying to get through the day. And so I thought Our Town. I'm. My impulse was to sort of update Our Town, but I didn't want to do a one to one comparison that was like, this is Grover's Corners 2025. I wanted to sort of bring it closer to my experience in my community.
Unnamed Audience Member
Quincy. Maggie is dealing with all of these visitors who are coming to her house in the midst of her grief. What does she really want from people? What would be most helpful to her?
Quincy Tyler Bernstein
To be left alone.
Unnamed Audience Member
Truly.
Bubba Wyler
You get that feeling.
Quincy Tyler Bernstein
I think she wants to be left alone, but, you know, they keep coming. Ultimately, you know, she is looking for and hoping for a peace, you know, a sense of peace and, you know, just trying to find answers that will sort of get her to that. Some people are more helpful than others, you know, with that journey towards her peaceful end.
Unnamed Audience Member
I have to ask you, because you came in and you look really beautiful today. Thank you, Alison. She really does. But during the show, you look like, sort of shriveled and like, so miserable and like there's just so much weighing on your body. And I was curious how you get in that position.
Quincy Tyler Bernstein
Honestly, I think that Maggie has taken over. She's in control now. So I just, you know, I give her my body and she's like, doing the work. I know with my own experience of grief, it's very heavy. It's like. It's just like Knots everywhere. And that's sort of what my experience is on stage. And I try to, you know, in my day to day, do what I can to make myself feel better, which is why I'm wearing a bright green skirt.
Unnamed Audience Member
You look very beautiful.
Quincy Tyler Bernstein
Thank you.
Unnamed Audience Member
Michael, as a narrator, do you think of yourself as the narrator, or do.
Alison Stewart
You think of yourself as Marv?
Michael Chernis
I think of myself somewhere in between. I think of myself as an advocate for Marv, almost. If this were the trial of Marv's guilt or innocence of whether he was a good man or not. I'm his lawyer, sort of with my opening statement at the beginning of the play and my closing statements at the end and laying out the facts of the case. So I think I'm more here to make sure that the truth comes out. And whoever I am, whether I'm me, Michael, off the street in Fort Greene, or I'm God, or omniscience or consciousness, or I am the ghost of Marv, doesn't really matter to me so much as I'm like a tour guide.
Alison Stewart
Hmm. The characters who come to Maggie's house, they come one. One at a time. Why did you want the story to be the play to be structured that way? One person shows up and has a scene with Maggie.
Bubba Wyler
So I actually started this play with the structure and then sort of filled in the story. I'm an actor, and I just. I love actors, and I wanted this play to be a celebration of actors. So the initial idea was that there would be sort of a bullpen of New York's best actors, and everyone gets, like, one big swing at a scene.
Alison Stewart
You get to watch a lot of the show, Michael?
Michael Chernis
Oh, yeah, I do. It's great. I'm so lucky. To echo Bubba's point, it is a murderer's row of just off Broadway and Broadway stalwarts. And watching everyone work every night is such a gift. I have the best seat in the house right on stage.
Alison Stewart
What have you learned watching this group of actors?
Michael Chernis
Wow, that's a great question. Well, this space is very intimate. It's 100 seats, and the audience is split into two sides. It's sort of like a long Runway.
Alison Stewart
And.
Michael Chernis
And so the actors are able to be very naturalistic and subtle and detailed. And every night is so different because I'm watching every night. I just pick up on all these little details and the incredible listening that is happening, especially from this incredible woman sitting to my right, Quincy. But the entire company is just. We're all so locked in and attuned to Each other. That every little gesture, every little breath is just taken in by the other scene partner. And it's extraordinary to watch. I've just learned a ton about listening.
Alison Stewart
The staging is really unusual. It's two sides, two rows. We can kind of see the people across from us. There was one woman the whole time I was there. Like, her hands were like this, right.
Unnamed Audience Member
Over her face the entire time.
Alison Stewart
Everything was like, oh, my God.
Michael Chernis
The audience is very much a part of it.
Quincy Tyler Bernstein
They are, right?
Alison Stewart
Yeah. Tell me a little bit about that, Quincy.
Quincy Tyler Bernstein
Yeah, I mean, I'm really grateful for the way that this space has been arranged. It was. I wouldn't say it was concern, but it's always tricky because you wanna make sure that everyone can see everything at all times. But I've really come to love this layout because I just feel like we're feeding. Well, I'll speak for myself. I'm feeding off of the audience's energy. So much so wherever I am in the space, I'm able to, like, you know, use them to propel me forward.
Alison Stewart
Does it affect your performance in any way?
Quincy Tyler Bernstein
Affect my performance? I don't know. I mean, it feeds everything in that space in that room feeds my performance each night.
Alison Stewart
What about for you, Bubba, that setup that you have?
Bubba Wyler
Well, first of all, we just fell in love with the space at Irondale and Fort Greene. We wanted to present this in a sort of non traditional space. And that space just has so much beauty and spirit in it. And the initial idea of setting it up like that, with audience across from each other, is we wanted it to feel less like a play that you're separated from and more like a community meeting.
Alison Stewart
This entire cast you have set up, Bubba, how did you go about getting this group together?
Bubba Wyler
I feel like the luckiest playwright in the entire world. We had an incredible casting director named Taylor Williams who sort of presented me with actors who I thought never in a million years I could get to be in one of my plays. And thankfully, they all said yes.
Alison Stewart
My guests are Bubba Wyler and actors Michael Chernis and Quincy. Tyler Bernstein were talking about their new play, well, I'll Let yout Go, which is running now at the space at Irondale in Fort Greene. It's just been extended September 12th because of the circumstances around Marv's death. We won't give any spoilers. There are questions that she has about the. About how he died. There are questions that she has about their marriage. Why do you think she's so quick to feel that Marv might have been keeping A secret from her.
Quincy Tyler Bernstein
I don't know that she's quick to it. I mean, she. She tries to push that thought out of her mind for as long as she can until it seems like there's no other choice but to believe that perhaps he was in, you know, the wrong place at the wrong time, if that makes sense.
Alison Stewart
Hmm. Think about that for a minute, Bubba. You know, it isn't a play about politics, but the crime at the center of the story does have to do with politics to it to a degree. How do you decide how much of our current political situation to bring to the story?
Bubba Wyler
I always wanted it to sort of politics, to sort of be seeping into this play. I think that to me is what it's about. It's about, you know, people trying to build a life in a country that is sort of less stable now than it was when they started. And I think that this play is about the way that our heightened political sort of atmosphere seeps into everybody's lives and affects people who are. Who are really just trying to make it to the end of the day.
Michael Chernis
What I love about what you do in the play is there are issues that are sort of hot button issues today, but you never highlight them in a way and you never really take aside like gun violence is mentioned, abortion is mentioned, the Amazonification and box storification of America is mentioned. But it just feels more like a fact of life. It's just part of the fabric of small town America and just stuff that people deal with as opposed to capital I issues.
Quincy Tyler Bernstein
They're just the given circumstances of the. Exactly the day to day, our day to day.
Unnamed Audience Member
Michael, we learned that Marv has been more religious lately. Drawn towards religion, drawn towards the church. Maggie is sort of like, I don't.
Alison Stewart
Know about all that.
Unnamed Audience Member
How do you think these differences in opinions about religion affected their marriage?
Quincy Tyler Bernstein
Their marriage?
Michael Chernis
I think as Quincy was saying earlier, they've been married for 25 years and they're in a period of drifting apart. Not maybe in a dramatic way, but just not linking up as much as they used to about certain things and not spending as much time together. And I think Marv is searching for something and he's finding community and maybe finding answers in the church. And I think he also has some stuff going on in his life. His brother is kind of in a rough spot and so he's trying to find meaning. And I think there's also an element to Marv that he deeply, deeply, deeply loves Maggie, but he's a real helper. And everyone in Town comes to him for help. And that's historically been true, that he's always. He's a guy of the community, and the Catholic parish that he belongs to is his primary community. And so he does tend to not consciously, but take Maggie for granted a little bit and prioritize these other people who are right in front of him who are like, come look at this. Come help me with this. Can you do this? And he kind of neglects his home life a little bit more than he should at times.
Unnamed Audience Member
Quincy, it seems that Maggie doesn't want to have a funeral, or she doesn't have a funeral yet. Why doesn't she want one?
Quincy Tyler Bernstein
You know, I feel like that when Joanie, the funeral director, comes and sort of presents this to her, it's almost like it's being forced on her.
Unnamed Audience Member
She's like a Tupperware lady, the way she shows up at her house.
Quincy Tyler Bernstein
Exactly, exactly. She has all of these, you know, tricks coming out of her magic carpet bag. I mean, Marv has only recently died tragically. Maggie is questioning her faith, her role in the church. You know, I think she is still processing what's happening and, you know, wants to do this in her own time, on her own terms. And then when she starts to question how he even came to parish, that becomes more complicated in wondering if he even deserves, as she says, a funeral.
Unnamed Audience Member
You get to have a scene together as a husband and wife in the film, in the play. What does that feel like?
Quincy Tyler Bernstein
It feels like flying.
Michael Chernis
It's euphoric.
Quincy Tyler Bernstein
I love this man so much. And I actually cried when he called me and told me he was gonna be doing the play because I just love him. So it feels really magical to be on stage, having been on stage with you the whole time, but actually have.
Unnamed Audience Member
That's the thing. You're on stage the whole time, and then finally we get to see you together.
Quincy Tyler Bernstein
We lock in.
Michael Chernis
It's so satisfying. I'm lurking and stalk and staring and listening. But, yeah, when my scene partner for most of the play is the audience, to finally be with an actor and playing an actual scene, it's just thrilling.
Quincy Tyler Bernstein
Yeah, I love it, Bubba.
Unnamed Audience Member
The show is also funny in places, especially this funeral director who we talk about. How did you find the humor in a show which is largely about grief?
Bubba Wyler
I find, at least within my family, humor is. Is how we get through these moments of grief. And, you know, my. My family, I think, is a quite funny family. And in moments when you expect that that humor would go away because there is such sadness or heaviness I find that people actually sort of turn that superpower on stronger and use it to help people feel comfortable and help things feel normal and to get through.
Unnamed Audience Member
I'm just sort of curious. There's so much word of mouth about this play. I had two people send me texts last night, like, have you seen this play out in Fort Greene?
Michael Chernis
Awesome.
Unnamed Audience Member
I know. Yes, awesome. Are you surprised in any way?
Bubba Wyler
I am surprised that any of this is happening. I just feel. I feel so grateful for the opportunity in the first place. I think that one of the things that we were. One of the reasons we were interested in doing this play in Fort Greene was to sort of create. Create that buzz. It was these great actors are doing a play where. And we wanted it to feel like a different experience. And I think that that's what people are. Are excited about.
Unnamed Audience Member
Quincy, what are people tapping into? There seems to be something that people are tapping into in this play. Well, I'll let you go.
Quincy Tyler Bernstein
I think for me, people I've spoken to have said that they are able.
Unnamed Audience Member
To.
Quincy Tyler Bernstein
Recognize a grief. I mean, it's such a universal experience, grief. But to see it sort of realized in this really beautiful, almost kind of small. I feel like it's in a small way, is speaking to people. Yeah. They keep saying it's just the most brilliant meditation on grief I've ever witnessed. And that's testament to you. Bubba.
Bubba Wyler
Thank you.
Alison Stewart
And yeah, Michael, what do you hope people leave the theater talking about and.
Michael Chernis
Thinking about this incredible cast who I've got to shout out Will Dagger, Constance Shulman, who plays that amazing funeral director character you talked about. Danny McCarthy, Amelia Workman, Emily Davis, Cricket Brown, our incredible understudies. It's just this company is extraordinary. And our director, Jack Sario, of course, Bubba's great play, but I mean, this cast is just. I'm surrounded by some of the greatest actors in New York. And I think that's part of the buzz too, is just this company. It's truly thrilling. And what Bubba's done, it's no surprise because he is an actor, but each character really gets a lot to chew on. Sometimes when you play like a quote unquot supporting part, which I've done a ton in my career, there's just very little to work with. And every character is so richly drawn.
Alison Stewart
The name of the play as well, I'll Let yout Go. It's running now through September 12th at the Space at Irondale in Fort Greene. My guests have been Bubba Wyler, actors Michael Chernas and Quincy Tyler Bernstein. Thank you so much for coming in.
Unnamed Audience Member
We really appreciate it.
Bubba Wyler
Thank you.
Quincy Tyler Bernstein
Thank you so much.
Unnamed Announcer
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Podcast Summary: "Well, I'll Let You Go' is a Portrait of A Marriage, and of Grief"
All Of It, hosted by Alison Stewart on WNYC, delves into the heart of culture and its creators. In the August 14, 2025 episode titled "'Well, I'll Let You Go' is a Portrait of A Marriage, and of Grief," Alison Stewart engages with playwright Bubba Wyler and actors Quincy Tyler Bernstein and Michael Chernis to explore their acclaimed new play, Well, I'll Let You Go. This summary captures the essential discussions, insights, and conclusions from their conversation.
Alison Stewart opens the episode by introducing Well, I'll Let You Go, a poignant play that paints a vivid portrait of a marriage strained by grief and mystery. Set in an old Midwestern farmhouse, the narrative follows Maggie, a teacher, grappling with the sudden death of her husband, Marv, a lawyer active in their church and community.
Notable Quote:
Alison Stewart [00:08]: "Well, I'll Let You Go' is a portrait of a marriage after death separates husband and wife."
The discussion features Bubba Wyler, the playwright, alongside Quincy Tyler Bernstein (Maggie) and Michael Chernis (Marv), who also serves as the play's narrator. The play has garnered significant attention, leading to its extension at the Space at Irondale in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, until September 12th.
Bubba Wyler shares that his Midwestern roots and personal experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic heavily influenced the play's creation. The isolation and collective mourning during the pandemic highlighted the complexities of grief and community support, serving as a foundation for the narrative.
Notable Quote:
Bubba Wyler [01:51]: "I started writing this play during COVID and a lot of people were dying and we were trying to find ways to grieve while all being separated from each other."
Quincy Tyler Bernstein discusses his connection to the role of Maggie, revealing that his own experiences with grief informed his portrayal. He emphasizes how embodying Maggie allowed him to channel his personal emotions into the character, adding depth to the performance.
Michael Chernis expresses his initial reluctance to join the play until he was moved by its emotional resonance and the attachment of his friend Quincy to the role.
Notable Quotes:
Quincy Tyler Bernstein [02:38]: "I thought maybe I could use my own grief to, like, make something. And this seemed like a great vehicle for that."
Michael Chernis [03:13]: "I was so moved by it that I couldn't say no."
The play intricately examines the marriage of Maggie and Marv, portraying it as typical yet marred by underlying doubts and recent strains. Their relationship is further complicated by Marv's newfound religious fervor and his active role in the church, contrasting with Maggie's questioning of her faith.
Notable Quotes:
Quincy Tyler Bernstein [03:50]: "I think it was a typical marriage... Maggie, she was, and continues to this day, experiences a lot of doubt in her life, in her faith."
Bubba Wyler [04:35]: "They came together. They're inseparable in my brain."
Michael Chernis elaborates on his role as the narrator, likening it to that of a tour guide ensuring the story's integrity and aiding Maggie in finding closure. The play's structure, with characters visiting Maggie one at a time, facilitates deep, personal interactions and maintains audience engagement.
Notable Quotes:
Michael Chernis [05:05]: "The narrator entity is here to make sure that this story gets told in sort of the right way... so that he can pass on and Maggie can have closure."
Bubba Wyler [06:28]: "I wanted it to feel less like a play that you're separated from and more like a community meeting."
While not overtly political, the play subtly weaves in contemporary political tensions, reflecting how a heightened political atmosphere permeates personal lives and community interactions. This layering adds depth to the characters' struggles and the overarching narrative.
Notable Quotes:
Bubba Wyler [15:33]: "This play is about the way that our heightened political sort of atmosphere seeps into everybody's lives."
Michael Chernis [16:06]: "Gun violence... abortion... are just the given circumstances of the day to day."
The play's unique staging—audiences seated across from each other in an intimate 100-seat space—creates a communal and interactive atmosphere. Quincy highlights how this setup enhances performances by fostering a strong connection with the audience, while Bubba emphasizes the desire to make the experience feel like a community gathering rather than a traditional play.
Notable Quotes:
Quincy Tyler Bernstein [12:29]: "I'm feeding off of the audience's energy. So much so wherever I am in the space, I'm able to... use them to propel me forward."
Bubba Wyler [13:18]: "We wanted to present this in a sort of non traditional space... to feel like a community meeting."
Michael Chernis reflects on the collaborative nature of the production, noting the importance of listening and subtlety in performances. Quincy adds that the actors' heightened awareness of each other's nuances enriches the overall experience.
Notable Quotes:
Michael Chernis [11:15]: "I'm watching every night. I just pick up on all these little details and the incredible listening that is happening."
Quincy Tyler Bernstein [13:29]: "Everything in that room feeds my performance each night."
Despite its heavy themes, Well, I'll Let You Go incorporates humor, particularly through characters like the funeral director. Bubba explains that humor acts as a coping mechanism within the family context, providing comfort and normalcy in moments of sorrow.
Notable Quote:
Bubba Wyler [20:54]: "Humor is how we get through these moments of grief... people actually sort that superpower on stronger and use it to help people feel comfortable."
The play has resonated deeply with audiences, prompting word-of-mouth buzz and extending its run due to popular demand. Viewers have found the portrayal of grief both universal and uniquely intimate, highlighting the play's emotional and cultural significance.
Notable Quotes:
Quincy Tyler Bernstein [22:19]: "People are able to recognize grief... it's the most brilliant meditation on grief I've ever witnessed."
Bubba Wyler [21:43]: "I feel so grateful for the opportunity in the first place... that's what people are excited about."
As the episode wraps up, Alison Stewart reiterates the play's extended run and expresses gratitude to the guests. The conversation underscores Well, I'll Let You Go as a significant cultural piece that intricately weaves personal grief with broader societal themes, all within a community-centric narrative.
Notable Quote:
Alison Stewart [23:01]: "The name of the play as well, I'll Let You Go. It's running now through September 12th at the Space at Irondale in Fort Greene."
Well, I'll Let You Go stands as a testament to the power of storytelling in exploring complex emotions and societal issues. Through the collaborative efforts of Bubba Wyler, Quincy Tyler Bernstein, and Michael Chernis, the play offers audiences a nuanced and heartfelt examination of marriage, grief, and community.