Hot off the heels of a successful Broadway run, Mother Play by Melbourne Theatre Company is a poignant and moving exploration of family, resilience and the complexities of motherhood. Directed by Lee Lewis, the Tony nominated play features a star-studded Australian cast led by Sigrid Thornton, Yael Stone, and Ash Flanders, bringing Paula Vogel’s semi-autobiographical story to life.
The show begins with a mysterious box on stage, soon revealed to hold memories of the Herman family navigating 1960s America. We follow Martha’s narration of growing up with her mother, Phyllis and her brother Carl.
The play traverses several decades, with clever nods to the fashion and music of the time. We see a family trying to navigate societal changes in the face of one eviction after another. It is a vivid picture of a family trying to find a place for themselves in an ever-changing world that continues to challenge their sense of self.
As Phyllis, Sigrid Thornton delivers a captivating and nuanced performance. She expertly captures the stark harshness, vulnerability and larger-than-life-ness of the character. Jessica Lange, who played Phyllis in the original Broadway show, described Phyllis as ‘mercurial,’ and Thornton leans into this side of her brilliantly.
Yael Stone is a fantastic Martha. She has a knack for using physical acting to grow with the character, sharing her transition from girl to woman. Ash Flanders is completely lovable as the self-assured and funny Carl. Together, the pair have undeniable chemistry as siblings united against a tumultuous relationship with their mother.
The set design is simply genius. A “play in five evictions” requires a lot of set changes, and Christina Smith’s vision is critical to its success. I love how the furniture stays the same no matter the home, but the configuration and door frame shifts as the Herman family moves up, figuratively and literally, in the world.
The intimate Sumner Theatre creates an immersive experience that coats the audience in the smoke and hairspray from the stage, further drawing us into Martha’s world. The complementary lighting design by Niklas Pajanti is spot-on. There is no one else who could make you fall in love with cockroaches dancing across the stage. Smith also leads the immaculate costume design. Each character’s identity is reinforced, from Martha’s oversized boxy shirts to Phyllis’s iconic bell-bottomed denim jumpsuit.
As a playwright, Paula Vogel is heavily influenced by her own life and family. The character of Carl is based upon her late brother Carl, who has also influenced earlier works, including The Baltimore Waltz and And Baby Makes Seven. She often writes about how grief shapes her work, and here, this lends itself to a powerful story that touches everyone who has, or is, a mother.
Fundamentally, Mother Play is about love in all of its stages. It is heart-wrenching and at times difficult to watch due to its raw frankness about how love can change us. On a personal note, it has changed the way I view my relationships and makes me reconsider the temptation to hold a grudge.
Director Lee Lewis notes that Mother Play is the hardest production she has ever worked on. Yet she says she wouldn’t be doing this play if she did not believe that it was inherently hopeful. “Because in this day and age,” she says, “hopefulness is the warrior emotion.”
Go see Mother Play, it will change you forever.
Mother Play runs to 9 August at The Sumner, Southbank Theatre, 140 Southbank Boulevard Southbank Vic 3006.
Tickets: https://www.mtc.com.au/plays-and-tickets/whats-on/season-2025/mother-play/
Website: https://www.mtc.com.au/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/melbtheatreco/
Photo credits: Brett Boardman
