After premiering in Paris, this hard-hitting play is set to be presented in Mumbai

A new stage production at a suburban venue aims to shatter the glorification of motherhood

A woman plays several roles in her life and each poses its own challenges, but being a mother is perhaps the most taxing of them all. The play, Mummy’s Dead, Long Live Mummy! tries to portray the struggles of motherhood in the most honest way possible, and with a pinch of comedy. After a successful premiere in Paris, the show is being presented in India by Lila Naatak Company, with Viviane Bossina, Melinda Mayor, Laura Wood and Koël Purie Rinchet in the cast.

Purie-Rinchet, who has written the script and is co-producing it, says that the idea was born out of the need to break the myth and glorification of motherhood. “Becoming a mother is a solitary and unique experience, and it can be one of the most nuanced and difficult chapters in your life story; no two mothers have the same story to tell,” she says. 

Viviane Bossina, Koël Purie Rinchet, Melinda Mayor and Laura Wood perform in Delhi

“The play focuses on the journey of four mothers with children of different ages, dealing with the ups and downs, trials and tribulations of motherhood with themes such as guilt, perfectionism, child development issues, sexuality,   bullying, racism and a woman’s internal struggle,” shares Ira Dubey, co-producer of the play. Interestingly, this is a form of theatre where the characters  remain nameless.

To portray the raw and relentless nature of parenting in this format of play is no mean feat. Tiffany Hoffstetter, the director, found that it was an exciting challenge to stage the play using flashbacks, and the different time space each character occupies. “This is always fun to explore as it’s something we see often in a film, but producing it on stage is a whole different ball game,” she explains. The show has been constantly growing and evolving even after the crew started presenting in front of the audience. 

The showrunners hope that this play, which will travel to London later this month, leaves the audience with a feeling that they are not alone, regardless of whether they are mothers or not; that almost everyone puts on a brave face and gets by as best as they can day to day. Most of all, they hope that it starts an open conversation. 

On Today; 5 pm and 8 pm 
At Prithvi Theatre, 20, Janki Kutir, Juhu, Vile Parle West. 
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Cost Rs 980

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