IT SEEMED, when watching In the Motherhood, as if writer Hayley Pepler had got every mum to put every experience they had ever had with their children into this laugh-a-minute hilarious show.
It fittingly started with two mums – Bonnie (Sarah Horner) and Nita (Louise Mardenborough) – waving off their children on their first day of school before meeting Jacs (Lauren Crace) who wants to join their ‘inner circle’ – aka the PTA committee.
What followed was an hour-long journey into being a mum with all its stresses and pitfalls and the roller-coaster of emotions they experience on a daily basis.
The trio flitted between the mindsets all mums go through – from potraying the persona of a perfect parent who knows exactly what they are doing to the fraught and fretting feelings of being unable to cope and struggle to get through the day – and reliving a few fond memories of once having a socially considered ‘responsible’ and ‘respected’ day job.
This was observational comedy at its finest that was faultlessly delivered by three very talented actresses playing some well-created charismatic characters.
The chemistry between them was excellent – from the moments they literally bounced off each other on the stage to touching more poignant moments of helping each other through tough times of trial and turmoil.
In just 60 minutes it covered a multitude of scenarios all mums are met with on a daily basis – from threats and bribing youngsters to get them do simple everyday things and trying to head off tantrums to the memorable moments of pride at events, such as school productions and sports days.
This show needed an intimate venue so the audience could really be close to the action and feel the mixture of emotions and the studio theatre at Artrix, with a minimal set, was the perfect platform.
It enabled those behind the show to put all the focus was on what this play is really about – a celebration of three mums doing their best for their children, regardless of what life threw at them.
The scenes were also very cleverly punctuated with well-known nursery rhymes and announcements in a child’s voice about which month they were set in.
Every person watching had gone through at least one (more than likely many) of the scenarios being played out on the stage leading to a constant stream of laughter throughout.
Every parent who has ever doubted their ability to bring up a child (in other words every single one) needs to see this truly mum-believable show!
