Reed Birney on Tearing Down Richard’s Defenses for ‘Mass’

Reed Birney considers his role in Mass to be one of a lifetime. The Tony Award winning actor (for the Broadway iteration of Stephen Karam’s The Humans) and I start off our conversation gushing over the richness of Fran Kranz’s debut script. Richard is a character who doesn’t want you to see his emotions, and Birney’s restraint and control is one of the most fascinating and emotionally effective aspects to the incredible ensemble drama.

The three other parents in Mass break more easily than Richard, but he has put up sturdier walls than they have. Birney gives such matter-of-factness to Richard’s responses that he could be confused with someone who is cold, but, I suspect, that he is tired of answering the same questions. He comes to the table armed with answers and explanations, but one of the most tragic elements to Kranz’s screenplay is how it gives room to Richard’s personal grief. He acknowledges his son’s terrible deeds, but he also wants the world to know that Hayden was in pain. Hayden also died that day, but Richard isn’t allowed to publicly mourn his son without ridicule or blame.

We need more adult dramas like Mass. It’s modest but grand, and Birney’s performance needs more attention. Richard doesn’t want you to see him break, but Birney expertly shows us the cracks.

Mass is available to rent now.