'Motherhood Madness in Musical Form' - Don't be misled by the title. This is a show about motherhood, but it's not just for mothers.
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Everyone should see it because it's snort out loud funny. It brings to light mum issues, often relegated to side jokes with our friends.
This week, Goulburn's Lieder Theatre, brings us 'Motherhood the Musical', written by Sue Fabisch, and co-directed by Hannah Cotton and Marianne Powles.
Amy, played sweetly and innocently by Anne Watterston and Sarah Trama, is a soon-to-be mum. In the opening number, 'I'm Having A Baby', she's blissfully optimistic and unaware of life after pregnancy but her three friends are there to give her naivety, a healthy dose of reality.
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Barb is the pragmatic, sarcastic friend but underneath the jokes you sense the bond she has with her brood. Bring a tissue for when Alecia Walker and Melissa Shoard beautifully sing, 'I'm Danny's Mum'.
Brooke, played deftly by Amanda Aitken and Amelia Whalley-Routley, is the Type A, list-lover mama; lawyer by day, 'Costco Queen' by night. They embrace the role with aplomb and their vocals are a joy.
Tash is the nurturer of the group and helps soothe Amy's anxieties. We also see a strong, resilient woman, who is adjusting to life as a single mum. Played by Ebrentia Brits and Cara Robinson, I could listen to these two sing, every day of the week. They give a raw and rich vocal performance, especially in 'Every Other Weekend'.
Having a small cast is challenging, as they're on stage all the time and an alternate cast means you're essentially producing two shows in one, with different nuances. However, twice the cast equals twice the joy. The ensemble carry the show well.
A brief cameo from Michelle Treble (her first venture from behind the stage) is hilarious. Her 'Grandmother', is on point. The musical talents of Hannah Gee, Catriona Wood, Natalie Ford and Ella Stewart-Richardson, drive the action along. The set invites us into an everyday living room, one we all recognise, and is simply and beautifully lit by lighting designer and tech, Steph Warden.
What I also love, is that this show is completely female driven (very rare in musical theatre land). Hannah commented, 'This has been such an amazing, collaborative process. The fact our crew, band and production team are all women, was intentional. We really wanted to empower the women in the company, celebrate all their talents, showcase their skills and give them a sense of agency over what they do.'
This is 90 minutes of musical mayhem and fun. Yes, you'll laugh at the jokes but you'll also walk away with a deep appreciation for friendship, the strength of women and the absolute grit and gift that is motherhood (you may even send your mum flowers...or at least answer the phone when she rings).
The show runs from March 3 to March 20. Grab your tickets at www.trybooking.com/BOGEF
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