Mother Play
The bonds of love are tested in this expansive yet intimate drama rich with humour and wit, starring film, theatre and television legend Sigrid Thornton, alongside Yael Stone, Ash Flanders and directed by Lee Lewis. Careening through the twentieth century – from the Muzak-drenched 60s through the sexual revolution, disco era, and New Age movements that followed – Mother Play charts the personal upheavals of one family trying to find a place for themselves amid the slings and arrows of a changing world.
It’s 1962 and Martha and Carl are unpacking. Again. Since their deadbeat dad ditched them and stole the family’s savings, they’ve been following their fierce mother Phyllis from apartment to apartment. Cockroaches, landlords and snooty neighbours be damned. Phyllis is determined to live life on her terms. They’re moving on up.
Mother Play is a gift for actors, allowing them to muster the full range of human emotion in service of a story that cannot fail to stir the heart.
Its 2024 Broadway production earned four Tony nominations and won two Drama Desk Awards and an Outer Critics Circle Award. It’s time for Melbourne audiences to be treated to the Australian premiere of this lustrous gem of contemporary theatre.
Feedback/Comments
Acting by all was phenomenal but the story was very dark
Absolutely loved this play, it encapsulated the complex relationship between mothers and their daughters really well. A really moving and impactful play.
I didn't feel like it had anything interesting to say. Acting and sets were good but the story was meh except for the depressing bits.
Sigrid Thornton is a star
great acting
Sigrid Thornton was sublime. Such a taken. And an absolute treat to see her on stage. Difficult family dynamics. Loved all the characters
Rubbish
I really enjoyed the play, would recommend.
The storyline was good, but some sections were too drawn out. Dialogue was patchy at times very witty and moving other times verbose and trivial.
amazing performances
Absolutely amazing.
Signed Thornton was a star!
A stunning performance
Good competent performances
What an all star cast. I was moved to tears. I recommended it far and wide to my network.
Absolutely brilliant sigrid Thornton amazing s always
absolutely loved this! have seen quite a few mtc plays and this was by far the best one i’ve seen. made me cry twice and smile continually - brilliant work to all involved!!
Great show that took us on an emotional ride. We couldn’t hold back the tears! So we’ll done!
Masterful performances by Sigurd Thornton and all of the cast. Fabulous, poignant theatres
An incredible technical production and outstanding acting
We'll worth seeing.
Touching and funny play. Great to see Sigrid live.
Great
It was amazing. Beautiful set and fantastic cast.
Intense- world class performance
Excellent show. Sigrid Thornton was amazing to see live on stage.
Intense, left with so much to think about. The way it should be!
While we enjoyed the play for the most part, there were several seconds that were quite tedious and went on for a VERY long time without processing the play. My sister and I did enjoy the show overall though.
Sigrid Thornton gave an excellent performance; the closing scene, goodness!
Brilliantly acted but very sad. A moving play.
Excellent performances by all actors taking you on their journey on the roller coaster of their lives
Excellent acting but tedious and self indulgent at times
Excellent production with great acting by all three. Simple staging but very clever changes throughout. Very interesting dialogue that really made you think.
Extraordinary performances by all actors, but I found the storyline quite challenging.
Sigrid Thornton, Ash Flanders and Yael Stone each gave excellent performances in this emotional play, but Yael Stone carried the show. Well worth seeing.
Great actors. Deep and challenging storyline. Sigrid Thornton as always amazing.
Acting was fabulous but can’t say I was impressed by the plot.
Great cast and performance pouring out raw emotion and taking the audience for a ride through the ups and downs of this dysfunctional family.
This play was amazing and I am so grateful to be able to have tikcets at such a reduced price. Thankyou
Sigrid Thornton’s portrayal of the gin-soaked, self-centred, complex Phyllis is both captivating and at times painful to watch. Yael Stone and Ash Flanders are equally outstanding as her emotionally impoverished children. A thought provoking play about family dynamics, love, resentment and duty which will resonate long after you leave the theatre.
Another incredible show by MTC. Congratulations to cast, creatives, superb direction.
Mother Play” shows the challenges and strength of a mother and her children over the many years. Sigrid Thornton gives a strong performance as Phyllis, capturing both tension, love, toughness and vulnerability. Its simple staging keeps the focus on the story and characters. Overall, it’s a memorable theatre experience.
Fabulous performance. I would recommend
Yael Stone was a standout, giving a nuanced performance displaying a full range of emotions and bringing the audience along with her at each twist and turn
A portrait of a family struggling through life with great performances all round. An especially powerful performance by Sigrid Thornton made this piece a pleasure to watch.
Brilliant acting. ..funny, sad and depressing
The audience, me included, was moved. All we could do at the end is clap and clap and clap as hard as we could. I have not seen such acting for a long time. The production is unforgettable.
Sigurd Thornton is brilliant as the complex character Phyllis struggling to raise her children as a single mother in the late 20th century. An emotional story experienced by many in todays fractured society.
All the feels - tragic, comic, knowing, poignant. Fantastic acting with age progression taking place through the time spanned. Moments of fun, but ultimately quite heart-breaking in the end. Highly recommended.
The acting is so amazing that it draws you into the story .. there are things that happen that are reminiscent and by the end you are so in to the story that you walk out in awe needing time understand the feelings welling around … it’s intensity draws on your emotions
Absolutely amazing! I was so moved I cried. The acting was incredible. 5 stars!
Sigrid Thornton was a revelation with Yael Stoneand Ash Flanders providing solid supporting roles depicting a family’s life and heartache through the unflinching lenses of each of them.
Paced and poignant without sugar coating, well worth seeing