The Mother ****

Christopher Hampton's adaptation of Florian Zeller's THE MOTHER is a searingly sad exploration of the nature of motherhood. By its nature it invokes supreme self sacrifice but, as Gina McKee piteously and poignantly asks at the end of the play, what is it all for? Because as your child grows older, this being that you have lived vicariously through, that sustains you, that is your raison d'etre, that has meant you've sacrificed your independence and relationship with your husband, turns around and callously abandons you for a new woman. It is the nature of things, but in this play, where reality shifts by different realisations of the same scene and scenario, we don't see situations as being inextricably linked to character traits or specific things said at particular points; rather, it becomes more symbolic of the whole nature of motherhood and that it inevitably must become redundant. I found it rather shocking that the friend I went with felt incredibly resentful towards the mother and what she saw as being such complete selfishness. She felt revulsion for the mother's dependence which she saw as idiotic, whereas I was rather more disposed to think it was the very natural conclusion of having children.

In a stunningly stark set, the actors' performances were unanimously strong. It wasn't as affecting, maybe, as THE FATHER, but the immensely thought provoking themes and ideas explored were unusually and intelligently dramatised.