The Upstage Interview: Michaela di Cesare (Fringe 2011)

Miracles Happen!

Upstage Host Eric Sukhu spoke with Michaela di Cesare about MaryBeth Productions presentation of 8 Ways My Mother Was Conceived presented as part of 2011 Fringe Festival. Below is an abridged version of the interview, edited by Estelle Rosen, CharPo Editor-in-Chief.

UPSTAGE

Tell us about 8 Ways My Mother Was Conceived

DI CESARE

Not an easy story to synthesize. My family truly believes my mother was conceived  by a virgin. This story gets told at all family gatherings  over and over again – a story my mother is very proud of.

Basically, when my grandparents were courting in Italy, my grandfather had to go to Switzerland to work. After he left it was discovered my grandmother was pregnant. Since they weren’t married and he wasn’t even in town, it was seen as a miracle. That is the pregnancy that resulted in my mother.

In as much as it was cute and entertaining in its innocent version, I always knew I wanted to tell that story.

UPSTAGE

You believed this until a certain age – did you ever  question it?

DI CESARE

I believed it for a very long time as did my family. It was a nice story; never questioned it.  But then I realized mythology can be dangerous if the truth behind it is not questioned appropriately.

UPSTAGE

Why did you want to write this story?

DI CESARE

In as much as it was cute and entertaining in its innocent version, I always knew I wanted to tell that story. I was performing and writing from a young age, knew one day this would be written for theatre. I didn’t know how; went through many versions including monologue. Romantic comedy, but  every time I tried to write it, always felt there was no dramatic impetus to the story.  Never had a reason urgent enough. 

Then along came my breakup. A momentous time only because in Italian families a girl must have one and only one boyfriend and that boyfriend must marry her otherwise there’s backlash.

UPSTAGE

Is it still like that  today in 2011?

DI CESARE

That’s what my play is about – North America 2011 – how is this still happening. How is it I was made to feel like a criminal. That this was the worst thing that could happen to me.

UPSTAGE

So your parents didn’t take the breakup well

DI CESARE

Not at all. My mother started spewing -  this isn’t the way  it was done in my day  - couples didn’t break up. Of course these days nobody gets married any more. 

So I said wait a minute  you were  conceived out of wedlock – no I wasn’t she said, that was different because Nonna was a virgin.

I just stared at her and said you don’t  believe that? Yes I do, she said. 

You can’t do that for three reasons, my mother said.

UPSTAGE

Has your mother seen the play?

DI CESARE

She came to see it In Toronto. She’s an excellent stage mom. At first she was happy. Gave her the draft to read. You can’t do that for three reasons, she said.

First, why tell so much of the truth. Second, if you do a one woman show people will think you’re conceited. Third,  no decent man will ever love you.

UPSTAGE

Why a one person show?

DI CESARE

The original story had 5-6 characters. As I was exploring it I decided such a personal story needs to be presented it as my version, appropriating all the voices. This is my version of the way my mother was conceived.

8 Ways My Mother Was Conceived

To June 19