Kelly Jones tackles grief, class and poverty porn in this searing, surprisingly comedic new play, My Mother’s Funeral: The Show. Abigail, a self-employed theatre maker, is working hard to have her commissioned play (about gay termites in space) produced by a producer, but he doesn’t feel that it would relate to an audience. “Our audiences want real stories, told by real people,” he says. There’s an accusation in there, for all of us sitting in the Roundabout, aware that we’ve all purchased tickets to see a show entitled My Mother’s Funeral. He ultimately pulls the project, and in doing so, cancels her commission fee, which is common practice in the theatre industry. But this isn’t solely a play about the commodification imbedded in the entertainment industry. It’s about Abigail and her journey through grief.
Abigail, played by Nicole Sawyerr, has recently lost her mum, and has no money or credit to pay for the funeral, and the many hidden costs that are incurred during the process. With no help from her brother, who has a complicated relationship with their mum, she decides to write a play about her death to attain her original commission fee. Abigail needs £4,000 to give her mum the funeral she believes she wats and deserves. We watch as Abigail’s narrative of her mum is twisted by the theatre producer and overzealous actress set to play her and challenged by the difficult truths delivered by her brother.
Sawyerr’s performance is wonderful as the scattered and loveable Abigail. She anchors the play beautifully, and the whole way through, you’re feeling right there with her, willing her on. Debra Baker, who plays Abigail’s mum and a multitude of other characters, breaths lightness and depth into the work. And Samuel Armfield’s emotional portrayal of Abigail’s brother is perfectly contrasts by his brash take on the theatre producer, who many working in theatre will be familiar with. The variety in the performances are expertly achieved. Each character is written with wit, honesty and an empathy only a playwright of that stature can do.
My Mother’s Funeral: The Show is on at the Roundabout, Summerhall from August 1 – 26 at 14:40.
Buy tickets here.
Image by Rebecca Need-Menear provided via Summerhall