The World Premiere of Mom’s The Word: Talkin’ Turkey is now playing at The Arts Club Theatre Company Granville Island Stage, until January 1st.
The Mom’s The Word Collective welcomes the Holidays in their latest play from the decades long Mom’s The Word series. First commissioned in 2019, the quintet of; Jill Daum, Alison Kelly, Robin Nichol, Barbara Pollard & Deborah Williams have crafted another collection of their anecdotes and embellished tall tales (at least I hope some of them are embellished). For their fifth return to the stage, the stories all revolve around the Holidays, the good, the bad and the hilarious.
As the moms search for the perfect Christmas, we find them pulling out touching, humourous and slapstick treats from behind the doors of Set Designer Pam Johnson’s most magical house-size Advent Calendar. It not the holidays without a bit of extra pizzaz and The Moms do not disappoint as they lead into lip-syncing to their own, sometimes bawdy, takes on Christmas carols, or flat-on-the-floor, leg akimbo Busby Berkeley inspired song & dance numbers, choreographed by Anna Kuman.
Like all Mom’s The Word shows, it’s hard to tell where the line is, if there even is one, between the character-version and the real-life version of these talented women. Perhaps because these holiday reminiscences are so relatable to every one of us who has lived through stress and anxiety of “the perfect Christmas” or dealt with similar family foibles, this feels even more like they’re sharing their own truths rather than some comedy written for the stage. In reality, it’s likely a bit of both, but just so well done we want to believe these are the real-thing, just like Santa. Since is the season for some festive cheer the audience is inspired to cheer this team onward and upward as they meet the challenges of family Christmas (or alternative celebrations) head-on.
Whether from gut-busting laughter or finding the heart in life’s little and big triumphs, it’s hard not to shed a tear during Mom’s The Word: Talkin’ Turkey.
See for yourself at The Arts Club Granville Island Stage, Mom’s The Word: Talkin’ Turkey plays until January 1, 2023. Tickets and show details at artsclub.com
photo: David Cooper