Mama, Mama you’re the queen of my heart Your love is like tears from the stars Mama I just want you to know Lovin’ you is like food to my soul Never gonna go a day without you Fills me up just thinkin’ about you I’ll never go a day without my mama…” These lyrics are from 1997’s “A Song for Mama” by Boyz II Men. Remember it? Nor do we. So, have a listen here… Lovely song, if a little forgettable. Ironic, seeing as the existential identity of the Mother in this play you’ve come to see, seems to have become forgotten – to her family, and most disturbingly, to herself. In fact, the sentiments expressed in the above love song to Mother are the polar opposite of the those laid bare in The Mother. If this play is a love song, it would be about being lovesick, because it is about a love infected with a sickness. In Florian Zeller’s The Father, the word “dementia” is never uttered, but it is unequivocally clear that this is what the old man is living with. In The Son, also by Zeller, “depression” is casually and callously mentioned, and yet we are in no doubt that this is what is plaguing the young man. But in this third part of Zeller’s family trilogy, it is unclear what “sickness” the Mother is suffering from. At first glance, she is exhibiting a classic case of “empty nest syndrome”: a mum yearning for her younglings who have flown the coop. But it soon becomes evident that hers is a torment of the psyche, and that something much more insidious and sinister is lurking beneath the surface… Theatre is meant to excite, enthral, and entertain, and this play ticks all those boxes as a drama, as a
thriller, and as, well, whatever “entertainment” means to each one of us. But as theatre makers, we also want to explore this thing called empathy. So this is an opportunity for us to climb inside the uncomfortable skin of this woman, and see her crumbling world from her fragmented perspective. It is a chance for us to reflect on ourselves, on our own lives, on our relationships with loved ones – yes, especially mothers - whom we so easily take for granted. It is also a timely wake-up call for us all to take mental health a little more seriously. Seriously. We want to thank our wonderful cast, crew, creative/production/ technical/stage management team on this production – for telling this challenging story in the midst of these still challenging times. Big thanks to the Community Foundation of Singapore for helping make this production possible, and for believing in our shared cause of mental health awareness. Much appreciation to our Season Sponsor DBS for your steadfast friendship and support. As always, love and strength to the Pangdemonium family – for the love and strength you give us. And thank YOU for your continued belief in the power of theatre, and for your faith in Pangdemonium.
Finally, thank you Mum, for everything. Here’s a lyric from “A Song for Mama” that is specially dedicated to you:
“You’ll always be, you will always be The girl in my life…”
Artistic Directors’ Message
“Mama, Mama You know I love you
