Party Face

The play follows Mollie Mae, a woman who has recently been discharged from a mental health facility. She hosts a party in her newly renovated kitchen, hoping for a fun and lighthearted evening. However, as the guests arrive—including her perfectionist mother, her anxious sister, and an unexpected outsider—the event quickly descends into chaos. As the night progresses, secrets are revealed, tensions flare, and the characters’ carefully constructed facades begin to crack. Beneath the witty banter and comedic exchanges, Party Face delves into serious themes such as depression, self-worth, and the unrealistic expectations society places on women. The play balances humor with heartfelt moments, ultimately delivering a message about authenticity, self-acceptance, and the importance of support systems in overcoming personal struggles.^[3]

Mollie Mae

The host of the party and the central character. She is wife and mother, whose husband is an architect and who lives in a beautiful home. She has recently been discharged from a mental health facility and is attempting to present a perfect front, despite inner turmoil.

Carmel

Mollie Mae’s overbearing and perfectionist mother. She is obsessed with appearances and maintaining a bourgeois image of family and success.

Maeve

Mollie Mae’s confident and straight-talking sister, who harbors unexpressed insecurities of her own.

Chloe

Mollie Mae’s posh friend and neighbor who serves as an outsider perspective, sometimes providing comic relief but also blunt honesty.

Bernie

A friend of Carmel's that possesses a more alternative and free-spirited approach to life, contrasting with the other characters.

The play premiered under the title Boom? at the Town Hall Theatre in Galway on November 2, 2017. The production was produced by Jan Warner Productions and directed by Caroline FitzGerald. The original cast included Isobel Mahon as Mollie Mae, Maria McDermottroe as Carmel, Karen Egan as Maeve, Claudia Carroll as Chloe, and Rosemary Henderson as Bernie.^[4]

The play debuted Off-Broadway at New York City Center Stage II the following year, under the title Party Face. The production was directed by Amanda Bearse, and ran from January 11 to April 8, 2018. The cast included Gina Costigan as Mollie Mae, Academy Award winner Hayley Mills as Carmel, Brenda Meaney as Maeve, Allison Jean White as Chloe, and Klea Blackhurst as Bernie. The design team included Jeff Ridenour (scenic), Lara Dawn de Bruijn (costumes), Joyce Liao (lighting), and Damien Figueras (sound). Producers included Robert Driemeyer, Morgan Sills and Jane Warner. The production competed as part of Origin Theatre's 1st Irish Festival, winning awards for Best Production and Best Actress, for Mills.^[5]

The original Town Hall Theatre production later transferred to The Gaiety Theatre in Dublin, under the title joint Boom? or Party Face. The production had a sold-out run from March 26–31, featuring the original cast.^[6]