And Her Children

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

And Her Children offers a compelling and skillfully crafted theatrical experience—one that stands out among this year’s Fringe offerings. From the moment the audience enters the space, the production demonstrates a strong command of sound and lighting design, creating a cohesive and immersive environment. At its center is Hailey McAfee, whose performance is both richly textured and strikingly poised, grounding the work with emotional precision. Drawing inspiration from Brecht’s Mother Courage and Her Children, the piece engages with the anti-war tradition while reframing its concerns through the lens of contemporary gun violence. The result is a haunting meditation on moral contradiction and maternal identity, set against a socio-politica... full review

Just absolutely amazing. Truly one of the most powerful pieces of art I've seen in awhile. Everything from the acting and the writing to how it was directed was just so phenomenal. Hailey gives such a strong and nuanced performance of this woman whom it would be so easy to hate if we didn't see some glimpses of her humanity with her children. And yet, and yet – I think that's the feeling you walk away with. And yet if she did this, and yet if she did that. And yet if she only listened better and didn't deny the path of loving because of fear. Good works like these don't leave you feeling like things were tied up with a bow. They leave you impacted and deeply thoughtful. Congratulations to the whole team! I'm so excited for where this goes.... full review