NEW YORK—There is no little irony in playwright Amy Herzog’s choice of the ordinary name of Mary Jane for her play’s title. As matter-of-fact event follows matter-of-fact event, one begins to reel when considering how this single mother of a chronically ill child can get through one day, let alone day after day, week after ... You get the idea.
Now aged 2 1/2, little Alex was born to Mary Jane (Carrie Coon) after only 25 weeks of gestation. He has cerebral palsy and other ailments, and requires full-time nursing care. What is remarkable is Mary Jane’s calm, rational approach to a multitude of life problems.