Invictus Theatre Presents Streaming Production of ‘NIGHT, MOTHER Review —Relatable Mother-Daughter Relationship

Invictus Theatre Presents ‘Night, Mother

Written by Marsha Norman, ‘Night, Mother centers on Thelma (Tekeisha Yelton-Hunter) and Jessie (Courtney Gardner) – a mother and daughter in the midst of a crisis. When Jessie announces to her mom that she intends to kill herself that evening, the two embark on a deeply emotional journey. Thelma begs, negotiates, and tries anything she can to persuade her daughter to choose otherwise. The fight spirals into the past as the two unpack years of history, and the impacts that mental health has had upon their relationship.

Effective Use of Tech

Helmed by Director Diane Sintich in the midst of a pandemic, the production features the two women in the safety of their own spaces. While this might prove challenging for a play that is so much based around intimate conversation between the two characters, Sintich and her team clearly worked to unify these spaces as much as possible, in this reviewer’s opinion..

The evening’s conversation takes a wide range of turns, and at one point lands on the subject of Jessie’s father who had passed a few years before. The two are in the kitchen – Gardner sitting at the table in her own space, and Yelton-Hunter by the cabinets in her own. All is quiet until Jessie calmly asks if Thelma ever loved her father. Truths are revealed as Thelma admits she was always jealous of her daughter’s closeness with the man, and how those insecurities impacted her own feelings towards her husband. They unpack dark, repressed emotions. In the midst of the conversation, Thelma is making hot chocolate, and we watch the two hand over props through the screen. Jessie hands her mom cocoa and milk, and Thelma later hands her a cup.letting us feel the. intimacy of the scene as if they are in the same space, and we are there too.

Relatable Material

At the root of this play is a story about a mother and daughter – one full of love, but also pain. Talk of mortality and impending time clock breaks down barriers –unleashing pure honesty to pour out.  Norman’s script takes dark turns; however, there are also moments of hope and comedy, letting us feel the joy in this mother/daughter relationship.

Walking the line between heartbreaking and darkly comedic, ‘Night, Mother creates an evening full of conversation and reflection.

RECOMMENDED

RUN TIME: 1 hour and 50 minutes

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Cast:

Tekeisha Yelton-Hunter (Thelma)
Courtney Gardner (Jessie)

Creative Team

Diane Sintich (Director)
Charles Askenaizer (Production Manager)
Arlicia McClain (Assistant Director)
Kate McDuffie (Stage Manager)
Satoe Schechner (Costume Designer)
Chad Lussier (Online/Technical Director)
Joseph Beal (Casting Director/Set/Props Designer)

When:

Offered virtually through November 8, 2020

Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7pm

Sundays at 3pm

Where:

Online via video link.

Tickets:

 $20

 For information or tickets visit the Invictus Theatre website.

Images courtesy of Invictus Theatre

About the Author:

Lauren Katz is a freelance director and dramaturge, and new to the Chicago Theatre Scene. She recently moved from Washington DC, where she worked with Mosaic Theater Company of DC in Company Management, as well as directed around town with various theaters.

Click here to read more Picture this Post stories by Lauren Katz.

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