And Her Children

Best of Fringe! A masterclass in writing, directing and acting!... full review

If you're reading this, do yourself a favor and see AND HER CHILDREN by any means necessary. Buoyed by phenomenal reviews and Rosie and Hailey's stellar track record, I walked in with high expectations, yet somehow they were exceeded. This is an arresting, deeply affecting work that is topical without straining for relevance; full of razor-sharp observations; and confronts you with empathy when you least expect it. Hailey's performance, which can only be described as transformative, had me leaning forward on the edge of my seat, something I haven't experienced in a one-person show since Jodie Comer in Prima Facie. Eighty minutes flew by, but I'll be thinking about this show for god only knows how long. ... full review

Devastating. Hailey McAfee is a phenomenal performer. Her portrayal of Anna Fierling is chilling. You are immediately charmed and won over by her as she justifies her despicable job. And as the story gets more deeply tragic, you can't help but see the humanity in this tortured person. Ilana Waniuk's haunting, hidden violin playing is the perfect backdrop. Rosie Glen-Lambert staged it perfectly. It's a masterpiece.... full review

How dare you make me feel empathy for an NRA Spokeswoman. Its so easy to be black and white about a topic like gun violence but this show does a really good job of highlighting all the shades of grey. Life isn't simple and neither is this play. ... full review

BLOWN AWAY!!!!!!! Hailey McAfee is an incredible story teller. I cried three times. So moved, so impressed, so grateful for the opportunity to see her perform. ... full review

It's rare that I walk out of a show genuinely speechless. And, in this instance, that that would be an understatement. Hailey is funny, sincere, captivating, and an absolute powerhouse of a performer. The narrative is poignant and leaves you with your mouth agape. This isn’t your typical, casual theater outing—it’s bold, thoughtful, and profoundly important. As a creative, I found myself watching and thinking "man... THIS is what we do it for." And believe me when I tell you, Hailey and Rosie DID it.... full review

Holy hell, this was a phenomenally written, acted, and executed piece. I was riveted from start to finish by an absolutely captivating performance by Hailey McAfee. She took what is often a 2-dimensional villionous character in the cultural zeitgeist and made her human while still managing to never excuse her behavior. You'll be thinking about this one long after the final, chilling blackout.... full review

Hailey McAfee gives an unforgettable performance in this well crafted, powerful examination of a complicated, "selfish" woman tasked to defend the indefensible. Even though I was unfamiliar with both the source material and more modern influences, this poignant, captivating show has me on the edge of my seat the entire performance (along with everyone around me, the woman next to me was sobbing by the end) Excellently directed, highly recommend this deeply moving show!... full review

Great performance by Hailey McAfee! The set was simple but effective. A commentary on gun reform (or lack thereof) in the USA. ... full review

It's common to lower one's expectations for any fringe festival show where the lo-fi, thrown-together nature of the performances is part of the experience, but there is no need to do so for And Her Children. It's a fully realized work of theatre. Mother Courage reimagined as an NRA spokeswoman is a concept that in the wrong hands could be incredibly bad. But the script is solid. It marries the two ideas relatively seamlessly while emphasizing the (in)humanity of the character and without ever slipping into an op-ep recital of liberal talking points or tired hand-wringing over hypocrisy. It earns its darkness. Hailey Mcafee's performance alone is worth attending for. She is a brilliant actor and storyteller. Her pacing is immaculate, h... full review