What I liked
The writing was forceful, grounded, funny, and ultra real. I immediately related to Jess as a parent. Breast feeding struggles were a huge part of our new born journey too, and she hit right to the core describing that madness.
Eat the Mama moved at a brisk, pleasant pace, and was vulnerable without being precious. The descriptions of love for her child made me ache, and had the audience sitting up tall and alert.
What I didn't like
Some transitions were a little undersold. I felt like leaning into crispers divides between the different analogies would tighten the show even further. Sometimes in transistion I couldn’t tell space travel from audience play back to reality. Tiny establishing lines, sound cues, or clearer divides to different parts of the set, even costume pieces, could clean this up. I loved the analogies, just clearer transitions.
My overall impression
Eat the Mama was refreshing, in the trickiest format, a one person show. This production was easy to settle in for and enjoy, had zip and zest, and enough emotional darkness to keep you on your toes.
