Mother Play – Q Theatre, 5 September 2025: Theatre Review

Mother Play – a play in five evictions opened to a packed house and brought the audience to their feet.

Playwright Paula Vogel based based play on her own experience, growing up in Washington DC, with her solo mother and her much-loved brother, Carl.

We meet the family in 1964, struggling to make ends meet. Mother (Jennifer Ludlum), who is 37, has recently been divorced and has custody of 12 year old Martha (Amanda Tito) and 14 year old Carl (Tim Earl). They’re living in a roach infested apartment. Mother is looking for work and soothing her nerves with gin.

Martha leads us through the next 4 decades, the evictions, the martinis, the hopes, social changes and cultural evolution. Much of it is pretty grim, in the way we have when looking back on hard times; but when we are living them, humour  and optimism get us through. And the entire cast bring so much energy and vitality to their performances, the laugh out loud moments far exceed the tragic.

Director Sophie Roberts draws such authentic performances from Amanda Tito and Tim Earl, we recognise them as the teenagers and adults we were or know. Jennifer Ludlum on the other hand… there’s nothing subtle happening with Mother. She is deliciously over the top, scene after scene; a character you can’t help adore and loathe at the same time.

Mother Play is playing at Q Theatre through 20 September.  Tickets are available here.