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.
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.
Nominated for Picture This Post BEST OF 2020