Mothers are mothering– in a musical!

Motherhood: The Musical, A review by Andrea Noga for AYTC.

Motherhood: The Musical, created by Sue Fabisch, finds its place at Fringe with the Waterworks Players, a local theatre troupe based in Wetaskiwin. Put on with heart and joy by the players, this is a show that mixes comedy and tenderness, and mixes them well.

Motherhood: The Musical follows the baby shower of expecting first-time mother, Amy, as the moms in the neighbourhood welcome her into the club and swap stories about their experiences with motherhood. From divorce, to make-up soccer games, to balancing the work-child balance, the musical covers all that can come with the experience of raising children.

This production features an ensemble of talented female actresses, all portraying complex women. While the show includes many, many solo numbers, where the show really shines is in the ensemble moments. The actresses are all completely in tune with each other and play off each other well. While the score includes a few more songs than it needs, each actress brings something to the stage which is worth seeing. A standout performance comes from actress Kate Down, who plays “Tina”, a mom dealing with the new normal of her divorce. Down plays the role with a careful sensitivity, allowing the audience to empathize with her character, as well as showcasing an impressive vocal range. Down’s performance of the song “Every Other Weekend” is one of the more memorable of the character solos. April Lynn as “Amy” also delivers a strong performance, competently portraying the naivety and stress of the new mother.

The design, done by Kyra Thompson, was also a standout for this show, as the set was fairly developed for a Fringe production. The set brought us into the world of this baby shower, making the stage feel homely and real.

While all of the women showcased strong vocals, unfortunately the venue was having frequent microphone issues during my viewing which had a negative impact on the overall quality. I was lucky to be sat close to the stage, however even so I had difficulty hearing the lyrics when mics would cut out. It was a shame, as almost entire songs were missed as the mic for the lead vocal would malfunction. I hope this was an anomaly for the show I attended, as it unfortunately put a damper on great performances.

Mic issues aside, the passion and confidence on the faces of the full cast is something that did not need to be amplified. Every member of the cast brought a different and fun perspective to their respective characters. While the in-jokes and references make this show a little more enjoyable for mothers than the rest of us, there are still some great jokes that all of us can laugh at. The Waterworks Players are a group to watch!

Motherhood: The Musical plays at Holy Trinity Anglican Church.