Mamoudou Athie Returns To The Stage In 'Good Bones,' Talks Representing Black Stories

From portraying a sommelier in Netflix’s Uncorked to leading the horror film Archive 81 as an archivist, to his Primetime Emmy-nominated performance in Cake, Mamoudou Athie has showcased a diverse range of characters on screen.

Like many screen actors before him, Athie got his start on the theater stage. This fall, he returns to the stage in a production of James Ijames' Good Bones at New York City’s Public Theater, acting alongside Susan Kelechi Watson, Khris Davis and Téa Guarino.

In Good Bones, Athie plays Travis, a chef who moves with his wife into the neighborhood where she grew up, now a gentrifying area. The couple is forced to confront whether they are part of the solution or part of the problem. Interestingly, before taking on the role of Travis, Athie was preparing for an entirely different project.

"I was doing a workshop with Saheem with one of my favorite actors, Bill Camp, for Shakespeare, and I was like, I haven't done a play in nine years. I should probably do a play before we do this insane idea that we had for this project. And Saheem was like, I think I have a part for something I'm doing coming up. Send it my way, and I enjoyed it," Athie said. "Very different part, very different guy," he added.

After signing on to the production, Athie had to continually adapt as the play evolved and his character underwent changes.

“The thing that makes it tricky is when the thing is changing as you're preparing, you have to change with the changes and sometimes you get caught up in what was the previous draft and then you just have to do some work over again, “ Althie shared. “I have to acclimate to the reality of the play, as opposed to what it was a week ago."

Despite the challenges, Athie found aspects of the character that resonated with him. "The thing that I liked about the original Travis was that he was kind of a clown, and clown was one of my favorite classes in grad school. It changed my life, actually, and it freed me up in such a wonderful way, even in dramatic roles. So, I thought I found a lot of value in that, and I thought this would be like a nice welcome back to the theater," Athie said.

Good Bones explores what it means for a Black man to pursue entrepreneurship, particularly through Travis' journey to open a restaurant. Athie emphasized the importance of representing diverse stories and characters in Black culture.

“Black people are much more multifaceted than we've been typically portrayed in the media, that's a fact and we all know it. That's what's echoed to me anytime I run into someone after the show, and it's important to see yourself reflected on camera,” Athie said. “It's not just one thing. It's not just the civil rights era, which is a beautiful, important story, but it can't be just that. I think a lot of us felt the same way in that, like, 'Hey, we're all Earl, Aisha, Carmen, Travis.' We're all so different, but they’re real people, and we all know people like them,” he added.

Further elaborating on the importance of representing a diverse array of stories and characters in Black culture, Athie said, "It's important to see yourself reflected on screen because not only is it good for Black people, it's good for everybody to see the diversity of humanity in the world. It's underdone and it's not recognized enough and it's unfortunate. So I'm always happy to play a part in it."

Despite portraying a chef in Good Bones and having played a sommelier in Uncorked, Athie shared that he doesn’t enjoy food while working.

“I don't really enjoy food when I'm working on a show, sadly. I like to eat very clean so I can be as focused and awake as possible when I'm working. So I've been eating the same every day, especially, in this early preview part process. It's important for me to stay focused, awake and sharp. It's ironic that I'm playing a chef, though, since apparently, chefs don't eat so well anyway. So I guess that's how art is mirroring life. I can't wait to eat some good food, I'm not gonna lie to you," Athie said.

"Growing up, I thought therapy was for crazy people or, highly sensitive people," Athie shares. "I'm talking about when I was in grade school, middle school. I was only introduced to therapy personally in my final semester of grad school, and it changed my life in just four sessions. Even beyond that, it has continually changed my life. It made me more open and understanding. It made me aware that people carry things—family trauma, or just the world we live in, which is traumatizing. Particularly for Black people in this country, or honestly, almost any country. You can't shoulder these burdens alone, and it doesn't mean you're crazy or weak. It means you're trying to find a way through, the healthiest way forward, and that's not always understood. So, I think normalizing therapy and seeking help is crucial. You go to the doctor if you're hurt or sick, or if your body isn't getting better. Why wouldn't it be the same for your mind?" he added.

A complex character like Travis was a natural attraction to portray for Athie. “I've been attracted to playing characters that struggle in these ways because it's so important and it feels useful. It doesn't feel like I'm just on stage, just having a good time. It feels like I'm doing something genuinely useful. So I'm happy to do it. And, yeah, I hope we get more examples of this because we're in dire need of it,” Athie said.

In discussing what makes Travis a "quintessential gentleman," Athie reflected, "I think as eccentric as he is, he understands what's important. He's willing to sacrifice for what's important. He describes himself like 'I know I don't always look like a fighter, but I am.' He won't just be a show of force for no reason, but he will when it has to be. He will defend his wife, even if he believes she's in the wrong, he will admit to a fault when he has been proven to be wrong or it's damaged somebody, he will take ownership of his mistakes. I think those are the true qualities of a gentleman, somebody who's willing to give more of themselves than they're being asked, or also to own up to mistakes and hopefully grow from it."

"I think there's an idea of the gentleman being like this kind of a dandy, which Travis is, but that's the exterior. The true essence of a gentleman, I believe, is someone who exemplifies the best of humanity, and I think Travis strives for that. He's only human and he falls short, but that's the goal."

You can see Athie onstage in Good Bones at the Public Theater in New York through October 27th.