Series Review: 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel'

John Thomas

By John Thomas

Mariam Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan) always knows what she wants in life and has the determination to get what she wants. One of her goals for college was to meet a tall blonde, handsome sports star, marry him and have a happy family. Instead of her dream man, she meets Joel Maisel (Michael Zegen) whom she marries and has two children.

She’s now living the charmed, upper-class life in the upper west side of New York City. As it turns out, however, her mind and spirit are more aligned with stimulation taking place in the West Village.

Joel dreams of being an entertainer, performing stand-up comedy. He appears once a week at the Gaslight Bar in the Village while Mariam sits in the audience and takes notes on his performance – the latter to be discussed on the way home. After one dreadful show, the despondent Joel packs a suitcase and leaves his children and Mariam – placing his failure on his wife’s shoulders. He neglects to say that he’s also in love with his secretary.

With suitcase in hand, he walks down the hall and out the front door. Mariam walks into the kitchen and reaches for a glass and what appears to be a bottle of cooking sherry. She fills the glass, empties it, fills it again and again – finally abandoning the glass and emptying the bottle. She needs to talk to someone about her predicament but who?

Her fuzzy mind hits on an idea. She throws a coat on over her night dress, hops into a bright yellow Checker cab and heads for the West Village. Weaving into the Gaslight, she says hello to Susie (Alex Borstein), the manager, and stumbles toward the stage.

Grabbing the microphone in her right hand and clutching its stand for support with the other, she begins telling the audience about what she has just experienced. The audience cheers her along – they love her and her story. Susie makes a mental note of Mariam’s performance and her audience’s reaction and forms an idea–why not arrange for a repeat show? She goes so far as to suggest she represent Mariam as her manager/agent. Back to her normal self the next day, Mariam considers Susie’s offer and more earnestly considers the need for getting a job.

The luxury department store B. Altman suits Mariam’s upper-class stature, so that’s where she heads. She hopes to work there as an elevator operator (most irregular for a female), but fate intervenes and she is employed on the ground floor cosmetics department.

Her knowledge of makeup and sparkling personality make her a huge success, but there’s still the Gaslight. Susie’s vision for her “rising star” requires exposure–other events and different venues. With fierce determination Susie explores any and every possibility for Mariam.

Any failures or disappointments Mariam experiences only make her stronger and more determined. Susie thinks it’s time. She asks a noted comic to open Mariam’s new show, which he is happy to do. The audience is packed and ready for fun.

When Mariam takes the stage, she is ready as well. Dressed in a swanky black dress and with a look of excitement in her eyes she takes the audience by storm. In the past, Marian has been using several stage names; now she is Mrs. Maisel – soon to become the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.  

“Should see” for a glimpse into the life of New York City in the 60s and the enjoyment of an hour or more of light comedy created by gifted artists.

johan@beachcomber.news

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