Portrait of a Madonna

Deborah Geffner and Joe Massingill
Photos by Robert Fabian

I found everything I needed to direct this play in Tennessee Williams’ words.  He’s crazy good.  I just kept peeling away anything that wasn’t in the words, and what was left was Portrait of a Madonna, played beautifully by Perry Smith.    In the same program of Tennessee Williams shorts, I also got to play the mother to Joe Massingill’s Eloi Duvenet.

…as a controlling New Orleans Matron, (commendably naturalistic Deborah Geffner, in the show’s standout performance)…

Philip Brandes, Los Angeles Times
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The best script is “Portrait of a Madonna” (1944), incisively directed by Deborah Geffner… The suffocating control of a New Orleans matriarch (Geffner) pushes her sickly son to commit a desperate act. Director Brionne Davis elicits excellent work from the actors.

Les Spindle, Backstage.com
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…the play was splendid. Deborah Geffner is Mme. Duvenet, and is wonderful as the mother of this wounded child.

Geoff Hoff, Los Angeles Theatre Review
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This was such a dynamo performance by Deborah Geffner… What an amazing way to end the evening. … Deborah Geffner has an especially good touch both in directing and acting – a treat to watch! … Tennessee himself would have liked being in the audience for Portrait of a Madonna … There’s no higher accolade I can give the actors and directors.

Audience Reviews, Goldstar.com
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