Mother Courage and Her Children
By Sue Lupton, Friday September 10th 2010 (Isle of Wight County Press)
The cast of Mother Courage
(Photo Isle of Wight County Press)
As a newcomer to Brecht’s work, I was curious ahead of RedTie Theatre’s production of Mother Courage And Her Children at the Quay.
Brecht’s work is rarely tackled by am-dram groups. RedTie is known for pithy plays on challenging subjects (think The Goat, about a married man who falls in love with a goat), but Mother Courage takes difficult drama to a new level.
According to the programme notes, it is one of the most astonishing stage creations of the 20th century and perhaps the greatest anti-war play of all time.
This production features Helen Reading in the title role and is directed by Joe Plumb, who is studying drama in London. The cast includes two other university students, Henry Vince and Georgie Fenwick.
Mother Courage supports herself and her children by selling merchandise from her wagon to soldiers in wartime. I wouldn’t reveal the plot, but don’t expect a happy ending.
War is the main theme and mother love is another. One of the most poignant lines is: "All I want is to get my kids through this war... I have no wish for a life of my own."
Unusually for RedTie productions, the cast is too large to be mentioned by name, but each is passionate and well-rehearsed. The wardrobe is even larger, including a huge variety of military uniforms, symbolising the universality of war.
One pleasant surprise is music: the play is punctuated with songs, which lighten the seriousness. For this production, the music was composed by Mick Smith.
If you’re looking for a gentle evening’s entertainment with feel-good factor, Mother Courage might not be fit the bill.
But if you fancy a hard-hitting, thought-provoking play featuring some of the Island’s most talented young thesps, Joe Plumb’s Mother Courage should not be missed.
Brecht’s work is rarely tackled by am-dram groups. RedTie is known for pithy plays on challenging subjects (think The Goat, about a married man who falls in love with a goat), but Mother Courage takes difficult drama to a new level.
According to the programme notes, it is one of the most astonishing stage creations of the 20th century and perhaps the greatest anti-war play of all time.
This production features Helen Reading in the title role and is directed by Joe Plumb, who is studying drama in London. The cast includes two other university students, Henry Vince and Georgie Fenwick.
Mother Courage supports herself and her children by selling merchandise from her wagon to soldiers in wartime. I wouldn’t reveal the plot, but don’t expect a happy ending.
War is the main theme and mother love is another. One of the most poignant lines is: "All I want is to get my kids through this war... I have no wish for a life of my own."
Unusually for RedTie productions, the cast is too large to be mentioned by name, but each is passionate and well-rehearsed. The wardrobe is even larger, including a huge variety of military uniforms, symbolising the universality of war.
One pleasant surprise is music: the play is punctuated with songs, which lighten the seriousness. For this production, the music was composed by Mick Smith.
If you’re looking for a gentle evening’s entertainment with feel-good factor, Mother Courage might not be fit the bill.
But if you fancy a hard-hitting, thought-provoking play featuring some of the Island’s most talented young thesps, Joe Plumb’s Mother Courage should not be missed.
In rehearsal. Helen Reading as Mother Courage
