The third installment of Mom’s the Word—Mom’s the Word 3: Nest 1/2 Empty, playing now at the Belfry Theatre—brings the laughs as five comfortably middle-aged women share their experiences of parenting children in their 20s and beyond.
When I arrived at the theatre, I was a little trepidatious because I hadn’t seen the first two shows (spoiler alert: it doesn’t matter). However, from the moment the cast stepped on stage, my fears were at ease: after 24 years of working together, Jill Daum, Alison Kelly, Robin Nichol, Barbara Pollard, and Deborah Williams have a comradery and chemistry that is tangible and infectious.
The group moves seamlessly—both as a unit and as individuals—as they share hilarious and heartbreaking snapshots of parenting millennials, their husbands, and their aging parents.
The show is based on the five actresses’ personal experiences, allowing them a deep connection to the work and infusing the show with a raw realness. The strong writing gives each woman the opportunity time to shine alone (highlights include Kelly’s recounting of painting her son’s bathroom dusty rose, Nichol’s retelling of the time she lost her car keys, and Pollard’s unforgettable monologue in a pool changing room), while showcasing the ensemble in group sketches, including a breathtaking reenactment of a caregiver support group and a memorable song praising pool noodles.
Moving boxes and a few pieces of furniture were constantly in motion on set, fluidly transitioning the plot from one tale to another. The women were able to change the mood of the room as quickly and effortlessly as the props, ping-ponging from stories of sky diving and overly friendly hot tub jets to Alzheimer’s and hospital visits on a dime.
While I may have been about 20 years younger than the show’s target audience, I enjoyed every moment of it. The humour was a blend of sage and crass, the heartbreak was relatable and, even if I couldn’t sympathize with the laments about hot flashes and vaginal dryness, I could appreciate the wit and wisdom of these women.
The play also helped me put things into perspective: as I left the theatre, I was overcome with an urge to call my mom and apologize for… well, everything.
Mom’s the Word 3: Nest 1/2 Empty
Various times, Until Sunday, August 12
Various prices, Belfry Theatre
belfry.bc.ca