Theater Review: Iron

 

                  Rosina Reynolds,  Richard P. Trujillo, Jada Alston Owens & Kate Rose Reynolds - photo by Daren Scott

Mother and daughter, near strangers, meet after a 20-year separation in Rona Munro’s stark, startling and thought-provoking “Iron.” 

“Iron,” a production of The Roustabouts Theatre Company, is on the boards through June 26 at Moxie Theatre. This excellent production features an actual mother and daughter: Rosina Reynolds plays mother Fay and her daughter Kate Rose Reynolds plays daughter Josie.

Josie goes to visit her mother in a women’s prison, where Fay is serving a life sentence for the murder of her husband, Josie’s father. Josie, now 25, barely remembers her mother and was raised by her grandmother on her dad’s side. The death of her “Gran” has left Josie alone, and she wants to make a connection with her mother and find out more about her father.

They are both helped and annoyed by prison guards Sheila (Jada Alston Owens) and George (Richard P. Trujillo), who insist on prison rules and paperwork properly executed.

Fay, in fact, is reluctant to meet Josie, but Sheila (a mother herself) encourages her, and the first meeting is quite a scene. Josie wants to know more about her dad; Fay wants to know what Josie’s been up to in the last 20 years and what her future plans are.

Their meetings (always attended by at least one of the guards) are affectingly awkward, sometimes amusing and always a little sad, as we realize that neither of them has another living relative.

Josie generally brings fruit when she comes, and often asks questions that Fay is reluctant to answer. Fay is not a fan of fruit (she finally admits she’d prefer cigarettes and chocolate), and manages to deftly deflect most of Josie’s questions. 

But Josie keeps asking because, as she says, “I’ve got no memories, but you have.” 

Josie admits to being divorced. Fay tells her to change her hair color and get her ears pierced. Josie asks Fay when she will be released. Fay reminds her that she’s a lifer.

This play is so intense, so heavy on the heart that it would be intolerable without this director and cast. Every move here seems just right, down to the slightest grimace or sound of the voice. 

Set in a Scottish women’s prison, “Iron” is gray and foreboding, the more so for Tony Cucuzzella’s stark set. Pamela Stompoly-Ericson’s costumes, Michelle Miles’ lighting design and Paul Durst’s sound design add to the atmosphere.

Ron Christopher Jones did the fight choreography.

I had some problems with the Scottish brogue, especially in the second act, but there’s no mistaking the point of this stark piece that makes you think about family, belonging, connection, separation and uncertainty. 

This is highly recommended theater.

The details

“Iron” plays through June 25, 2022 at Moxie Theatre, 6663 El Cajon Blvd.

Shows Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. Matinees Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Tickets: (619) 568-5800 or the roustabouts.org/tickets