MOTHERHOOD OUT LOUD

Sex Talk Fugue
‘Sex Talk Fugue’, one of twenty monologues performed in MOTHERHOOD OUT LOUD

Intimate pub theatre is alive and well at the Exchange Hotel in Balmain. The Craftman’s Bar downstairs has a very homely ambience including two long dinner tables for theatre patrons who wish to eat during the show.

It is the perfect venue for Insomniac Theatre’s new American play, MOTHERHOOD OUT LOUD.  The cast of one man and five women play multiple characters in a montage of about 20 monologues, playlets and fugues.  These have been written by 14 celebrated American writers.

The pieces are funny, sad and cheeky with an eclectic insight into the stages of parenthood.  The play begins with childbirth and progresses sequentially through the ever changing chapters of human growth – the baby (sleep deprivation), the toddler (the horror child and bully), the quirky 7-year-old, the dissatisfied teenager, the adult mother/child relationship and even the great grandmother.

Sharp and humorous direction by Maggie Scott ensures that the pieces flow together smoothly and the audiences are never bored.  Maggie herself is directed in two later pieces by assistant director and cast member, Andrew Mead.  Her touching monologue, “Stars and Stripes”, is about a mother who wishes she could have gone to Afghanistan ahead of her son to ‘make it safe’. When three men knock at her door, she doesn’t acknowledge the inevitable, but launches into past memories.  Maggie herself had a son go to Afghanistan, but without the horror of loss.

The earlier pieces are more humorous and full of angst.  Actress Brooke Davidson’s “Queen Esther” is about a delightful Jewish divorced mum whose son likes to wear dresses.  In “Baby Bird”, a mother with an adopted Chinese daughter and one child of her own, has to answer to strangers who ask, “If you have a biological child, why did you adopt?”  She then explains adoption to her daughter with motherly reassurance.

Actress and comedian Bridie Connell brings refreshing humour and warmth to her characters.  Jo Flanagan and Amylea Griffin bring energy and charisma to their characters.

Award winning actor Andrew Mead performs a powerful monologue in “If We’re Using a Surrogate, How Come I’m The One With Morning Sickness”.  He is a gay man who, with his partner, has chosen a lesbian surrogate, ‘Donor 6247’, and announces, ‘We’re having a gayby’. He brings touching compassion into this piece.

There are many great pieces, however the second half seems to have more stories with pathos and humour. Experienced actress Jenny Jacobs plays some wonderful and diverse older characters. Her Moslem mother of a cheeky 15 year old daughter in “Nooha’s List” is very funny.  She calls ‘facebook’, ‘space face’.  In “Michael’s Date” monologue, she drives her autistic teenage son and his first date Chloe to the movies, only to see Chloe walk away afterwards.

Jenny also plays a very funny great grandmother who dislikes most of her offspring in “Report On Motherhood”.  Jenny and Andrew perform a touching piece, “Elizabeth”, about a divorced son who moves in with his mother who is in the early stages of dementia.

 MOTHERHOOD OUT LOUD is vibrant and entertaining.  You don’t have to be a parent to appreciate the humour and content.

The show is being performed at the Exchange Hotel in Balmain from March 19th to April 6th, playing Tuesdays to Thursdays at 8pm and Sundays at 6pm. Phone Bookings 95559009.