And Her Children

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

A masterful solo performance that left me breathless. And Her Children is an unflinching, darkly funny, and ultimately devastating piece that confronts the cost of complicity with terrifying intimacy. Hailey McAfee’s performance is a tour de force—razor-sharp, emotionally precise, and haunting. This show shook me to my core in the best way possible.... full review

Oh my God. So utterly powerful. Possibly my favorite Fringe show this year although I have to let its power settle.... full review

Wow. What a haunting performance from Hailey McAfee as Anna Fierling. You don’t need to know about Brecht to appreciate the beautiful writing and clever contradictions. Hard-hitting and tragic, in the best way.... full review

Blisteringly effective, this modern take on Mother Courage is a fascinating character study. Being familiar with the work of many members of this cast and creative team, "AND HER CHILDREN" is, to me, a shining example of a shared calling card: honor and homage to theatrical icons without being *too* sacred, and white-hot, hyper-relevant performative takes on what matters now. All the flavors, portion size, and craft are here. Hailey, Rosie, Ilana, Padra, Russell, Abi, and Mallory have served an amazingly balanced, flavorful take on a classic that lingers well after. Bravo to the entire team. Go see this. Run, don't walk. ... full review

Hailey McAfee is a frickin star. What an absolute tour de force performance. A young Nicole Kidman-type with the control, gravitas, and chops of someone far past her years. This play has an essential message and it definitely delivers it, but it only comes across because of this technically demanding performance. Incredibly, Hailey never makes this heavy lifting look difficult. She makes us laugh with her, makes us hate her, makes us cry for her, makes us afraid of her, and is only ever comepletely… Mother. She blew me away.... full review

Poignant and riveting. There are moments in this play that make you laugh heartily and other parts that make your heart heavy. Ms. Rosie Glen-Lambert and Ms Hailey MacAfee are exceptional artists. We left the play in awe of the acting, writing, directing. Bravo to these talented ladies! ... full review