Matt and Ben: A Hilariously Heartwarming Story

By Ella Cocchi ’29

This year’s fall 1212 play, Matt and Ben, debuted in the Studio Theater with a matinee on October 14th and re-performed on the 15th and 16th, enjoyed a strong reception. The two-person play was written by and originally starred Mindy Kaling and Brenda Withers, and tells the fictional story of real-life movie stars Matt Damon, played by Vivienne Mockenhaupt ’27, and Ben Affleck, played by Iyore Ip ’29. In the play, they attempt to write a screenplay adaptation of The Catcher in the Rye, the classic novel by J.D. Salinger, when the fully finished manuscript of Good Will Hunting literally falls from the ceiling. In reality, Damon and Affleck created Good Will Hunting, which became an Oscar-winning film, themselves, and it became the breakout hit that would kick off their careers; the play is a satirical take on the origin of the screenplay.

The play is set in Ben’s apartment in Somerville, following the duo as they navigate their complex relationship with each other, themselves, and their careers. Considering the fact that the characters themselves are public figures, the actors found it difficult to navigate how closely their portrayal should imitate the celebrities themselves. The actors decided to stay as true as possible to the play’s version of the characters, rather than getting caught up in the celebrities’ real traits. Mockenhaupt noted that she wanted to “just be this fictional character of Matt Damon and . . . leave the fact that Matt Damon really exists in the world behind.” The production created an exaggerated version of the two celebrities; therefore, the actors had to adhere to fictional versions of their characters.

Another challenging, yet rewarding, aspect of the production was the two-person cast in that the entire show’s outcome becomes predicated on just two people. Ip remarked: “I was struck by how different [a production] is when so much depends on you and one other person . . . even the length of the show.” Due to the production’s reliance on the actors’ choices, the audience was more entertained because they could focus on the nuances of the two actors’ relationship. Matt and Ben, for a portion of the show, impersonate two other people: Gwyneth Paltrow and J.D. Salinger. Ben pretended to be Paltrow and Matt pretended to be Salinger at different points. The impersonations created a hilarious comedic effect. Lily Hayashi ’29 remarked, “It was really funny to see how they took the characters and brought them to life.” The small cast made it easier for the audience to empathize with them. Another aspect of the production that pulled the audience members into the story was its location: the black box theater.

This production was a part of Milton’s 1212 play series, which began decades ago in the now-demolished Wigglesworth 1212 classroom. Since then, the 1212 program has grown, and Milton now stages a 1212 every season, situated in the Studio Theater, known among students as the black box. The black box theater typically does not host comedies, instead centering around more dramatic productions. However, for Matt and Ben, the location worked perfectly. The black box gave a more intimate, realistic feel to the play. The first row of seats was level with the stage, adding to the production’s authenticity; it truly felt as if the audience was just watching the story of two friends play out. Hannah Shneidman ’28 commented that, in a black box theater, “the actors can get much more personal with the audience.” This directness was essential in a play like Matt and Ben, in which the play’s success is dependent on the audience’s reactions. The actors regularly sought interaction with the audience, in both direct and indirect ways. Abe Laznik ’29 observed, “The actors did a great job communicating, and the house . . . did a great job of responding to that.” Both the actors’ merit and the audience’s reactions were essential in the creation of a great performance.

Matt and Ben, a play about two friends trying to create a movie, amazed audience members with its witty humor and commentary on friendship. Throughout the story, the characters built a bond with the audience, one unique to the show.