What I liked
I genuinely can’t stress how good the sound design is. Also the minimalist box that gets reconfigured throughout the show is the perfect way to add to the show’s ambience, quickly inform the setting, and make stunning stage pictures.
If I had to pick one section of the story that stands out it would have to be the baking tutorial. It’s so funny, so dark, and so relatable.
What I didn't like
I love the variety of theatrical tools used to heighten otherwise mundane situations. The only tricky part is that sometimes the metaphors within metaphors started to impact the clarity slightly. I wonder if there is a clearer way to differentiate between the spaceship, other heightened worlds (like a 1950s cooking show or a court scene), and real world. The creativity was so inspiring and I’m so excited to see where you go next!
My overall impression
Eat the Mama is a raw and vulnerable look at Motherhood through heightened theatricality and science-fiction theming. From the first moment of the show’s impressive sound design you are immersed in the lonely world of a spaceship hurdling through space. The minimalist set, sound design, and lights are startlingly effective at creating the show’s ambience, and the story is driven beautifully forward by Jessica Mele’s truly stellar (or perhaps in this case interstellar) performance. The show features a striking juxtaposition of unbridled rage and earnest tenderness that keeps you constantly on the edge of your seat and the moments of audience interaction function as a refreshing palate cleanser throughout the show.
