On Thursday night, Jesse and I ventured out for our first night out since returning to our hometown Vancouver. As I you can imagine from my post on Go Go Mama Go, we’ve been battling cardboard boxes, movers, paint and IKEA. I admit that when our chance to see Mom’s the Word: Remixed came along I wasn’t really jumping for joy. I just wanted to unpack and collapse into bed, but I knew that getting myself out of the house would be just the right kind of laugh therapy I needed to recover from the epic saga called “Jesse and Christine Move to Vancouver.”

And I’m so glad we did.

Originally debuting at the Vancouver festival Women in View in 1993, Mom’s the Word fully premiered at the Arts Club in 1995, and later delivered more than 2,500 performances to over one million people across four continents. The follow up Mom’s the Word 2: Unhinged had its world premiere at the Arts Club in 2005 and has since been performed to more than 250,000 people across three continents.

Playing at the Art’s Club Theatre until November 7, Mom’s the Word: Remixed seems to hit all the highs and lows of being a mom in today’s world. Based on a collection or composite of the playwrights’ stories, the play runs the gamut of topics from premature birth to delinquent teenagers to extra-marital affairs. There’s even a streaking scene.

Among the five performers, Deborah Williams in particular gave a stand-out performance delivering lines like “Every day I start out Mary Poppins but I end up Cruella de Vil.” and healing us from pushing fundraiser cookie dough and popcorn on our friends and family. Allison Kelly’s stories of the birth of her premature son didn’t leave a dry eye in the house but later caught a laugh when she recounts how her teenager son told her, “Get over it Mom, I lived.”

It’s cliche, but true: you’ll laugh, you’ll cry – and if you’re me (which I know you’re not, but follow me now), you’ll leave feeling that extra-bit ok to unpack 20 more boxes, live in a house turned upside down and eat take out for another few days. Perfect for any mom wanting to take a break from the everyday. Better yet, organize a “you” night and see this play with your mommy group friends.

Jill Daum, Barbara Pollard, Deborah Williams, and Susan Bertoia in the Arts Club Theatre Company’s production of Mom’s the Word: Remixed. Photo by David Cooper.

Mom’s The Word: Remixed
By Mom’s the Word Collective: Linda Carson, Jill Daum, Alison Kelly, Robin Nichol, Barbara Pollard, Deborah
Williams.
Starring Susan Bertoia, Jill Daum, Alison Kelly, Barbara Pollard, Deborah Williams
Playing at the Arts Club until November 7, 2009.
Buy tickets online.

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