Y MOTHER AND THE MICHIGAN/OHIO WAR – Written by Paul Stroili; Directed by Len Matheo. Produced by Miners Alley Performing Arts Center (1100 Miners Alley, Golden) through March 29. Tickets available at 303-935-3044 or MinersAlley.com.
The Purple Rose Theatre is a small, intimate company in Chelsea, Michigan, about 20 minutes west of Ann Arbor. It started in a garage owned by Jeff Daniels’ grandfather in 1991. Early success allowed for the construction of a new theatre building in 2001, and there’s been no stopping them since. They have attracted a cadre of playwrights and actors who present, along with American classics, a program of new scripts doled out four a year. Early Purple Rose scripts hit Denver years ago when the Fox presented ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT, directed by John Ashton. They have continued entertaining Colorado audiences, with the guidance of Len Matheo at Miners Alley, which has presented four, now five, of the original plays to come from the Rose.
And this one lives up to the reputation they have established as presenting crazy funny scripts with the heart and voice of the Midwest. MY MOTHER . . . is another crazy funny three-character comedy about a “typical” Michigan family of mother and two grown siblings from different sides of the football field. It wraps in a lot of Michigan history (you get a graphic description of the “war” over a strip of land), family dynamics, and a woman dealing with grief in her own way. The dialogue starts by breaking the fourth wall immediately when Izzy, the Mom (given comic life by Cindy Laudadio Hill), explains why her house is a mess and what’s going on in her life to the audience. She introduces us to her grown children – Carey, a loving but independent daughter (played by the always pleasing Kate Poling) and Josh, an adopted younger brother (Orion Carrington in his Miners Alley debut). In addition to having a great connection as a family, each player gets a plethora of one-liners and “in” jokes with the audience. Izzy occasionally breaks the scene to explain to the audience what is really happening in the family history.
The three actors command the stage the moment they arrive. Cindy is charged with monologues explaining both family and Michigan history. Her quiet confidence and cheerful Mom-like personality make it a joy to watch and listen to her stories. She shares everything with the audience, engaging them in gentle immersive actions that captivate the watchers with ease and grace. The children, while seeming to be polar opposites, soon reveal a love for their mother and each other that is heart-warming and familial. Both Kate and Orion have created whole personalities and enter into the family dynamic with no hesitation. Their rivalry both captivates and reveals their sibling connection.
There is a story being told here, but it’s not nearly as important as the building of the relationships within this family for the audience. Though they might not want to admit it, there is a lot of love spilled out on the stage during this show. Despite the tricks, game- playing, and rivalry over opposing football teams, these people care for each other deeply. After the stories are told and the games won (and lost), the evening culminates in one of the funniest command performances you’ll ever see. Carey and Josh have lost a bet to their mother and end up doing a parody reconstruction of the war over that infamous strip of land that includes a rewriting of HAMILTON.
To escape the chaos of the world outside right now, treat yourself to an evening of unadulterated joy and family humor. You’ll feel the better for it.
A WOW factor of 9!!