What's Up, Laurie Metcalf? The Lie of the Mind Star Talks About Drama, Onstage and Off

Laurie Metcalf started her 2009-2010 season starring on Broadway as Kate Jerome, the matriarch of Neil Simon’s comedies Brighton Beach Memoirs and Broadway Bound, which were scheduled to play in rep. After Brighton Beach’s run shockingly ended a week after opening (and Broadway Bound, which centered on Kate, was cancelled entirely), Metcalf found off-stage drama creeping into her everyday life. Which is why, she explains, the chance to take her current gig as downtrodden mother Meg in the off-Broadway revival of Sam Shepard’s memory play A Lie of the Mind, directed by Ethan Hawke, came along at the perfect time. We talked to this versatile leading lady about her recent Broadway heartache and hot new off-Broadway ticket.

A Lie of the Mind hasn’t been seen in New York in 25 years. Fill us in.
It’s a show about what happens to two families after something terrible happens between a husband and his wife. While I didn’t get to see [the 1985 premiere] production, I remembered that the play had these two terrific “mom” roles. So when I heard it was being done, I was excited by the concept of tackling either one. I got a taste of working on Sam Shepard’s material by playing the mom in True West ages ago with Steppenwolf Theatre Company. When that was done, I wanted more [Shepard]! This play certainly is that. It’s eight meaty roles up there.

You’ve played a lot of mothers. Is that intentional?
Ha! When I boil it down now, almost any role that I’m going to get is going to be a mom. Probably.

You jumped from  Brighton Beach Memoirs into this role. How was that transition?
When one thing ends, you put it away and start from scratch on the next thing. I’m just glad this project came along when it did, because the way Brighton Beach ended was very hard and very frustrating—and depressing.

Since you brought it up—was that end a shock?
It was. You don’t sign up for anything you think won’t make it. The whole thing was handled in a way that made it really hard on everyone involved.

In the abruptness of the end itself, or the way you were given the news?
Both of those things. All of the actors had their heads down working, and then looked up to find it over. We were blindsided. I understand that that happens all the time. But I had, and lots of people had, made big changes in my life [to do the show]. They became hard to justify.

Like what?
[My family] relocated. I enrolled one of my children in school here and didn’t want to take him out. We came fully believing we were going to be here for a year. I knew that the only thing that would pull me out of my own small hell—that I didn’t want to have rub off on everyone—was being able to work on another project.

So A Lie of the Mind came along...
...at the perfect time for me. It really helped me get over the hump. I think I’d still be wandering to my son’s school in a daze every day wondering what happened, which I was doing for a little while there!

Was it any comfort knowing that the response within the Broadway community to Brighton Beach closing was disbelief?
Yes, it really was. And that the people who saw it, in the short time it was up, appreciated it and seemed to really enjoy it. The shame of it, really, is that Broadway Bound didn’t get seen—poor Josh Grisetti [slated to appear as Eugene in Broadway Bound] didn’t even get to do a show. And that play is wonderful. The plays together strengthened each other, and it was a great idea to do them in repertory—that was one of the exciting pieces of the project that attracted me. I didn’t really sign up to do just one.

It might sound lame, but is there anything positive you can take away from that experience?
It got me back to New York, and I love it here. I’m trying to slowly make my way here to live permanently. Also, I met great people on that show. But the real upside in being here is doing A Lie of the Mind. It’s a pleasure to go to work every day. [Co-star] Keith Carradine and I bonded immediately. The whole cast did. It’s a slippery play, this one, but I adore the cast and Ethan [Hawke], and the process has been surprisingly smooth.

Ethan’s known as an actor. What’s he like as a director?
He’s literally wanted to direct this show for 20 years. He was so passionate about it when we first spoke that I immediately wanted to be a part of his version of the show. He’s a very good director, very collaborative. He's been working with the live musicians we have in the production for over a year. I don’t know that [directing] is what he wants to do permanently, but he should know he’s very good!

So, has this positive experience with Lie of the Mind kept you from getting jaded by the Brighton Beach breakdown?
It has. But I will soldier on no matter what! I can’t stay away. Really, I’ll go anywhere at any time to continue working in theater—it’s a passion that I’m thankful I still have. It keeps me creative and on my toes and meeting great people. I can’t imagine a better way of working than on a play.