About the Project
The Long Goodbye is about this fractured mother/daughter relationship…and how the devastating disease Alzheimer’s forced Mattilyn to return home as an adult and come to terms with it. It’s the story of a mother who can’t remember and a daughter who can’t forget. Anyone who has dealt with Alzheimer’s or child abuse will find special meaning in this show but, in truth, the basic themes of the story are universal – the pains and joys of childhood, the trials of wanting the best for your child and falling short, the desire to leave home and become your own person. And, above all, the struggle to forgive the sins of the past.That said, the goal with this show was not just to tell a pained story, but to make sure people were entertained by it. No one runs to see shows about Alzheimer’s or child abuse based on subject matter alone, which is understandable – they are heavy, uncomfortable topics. With that in mind, The Long Goodbye balances the dark moments with a great deal of humor and joy. There are far more laughs than tears. It is not a lecture, it’s a performance. As a professional actress and singer Mattilyn’s talents are fully utilized, playing multiple characters while playing herself and her mother as full-fledged dramatic characters and she delves into song frequently.
A note from the artist
“My mother was an unsung African-American civil rights activist and human rights advocate who broke racial and gender barriers in her life and career. But in her private life she was a harsh task master who ran our home like a military boot camp and subjected me to years of physical and mental abuse. How she went from enemy to hero is what this show is really about. The gift of forgiveness”
Learn More at mattilyn.com
Production Team
