Er ég mamma mín?
- Year
- 2020
- Type
- Theatre
- Role
- Actor
- Venue
- Borgarleikhúsið
- Director
- María Reyndal
Er ég mamma mín? (Am I My Mother?) is a play by María Reyndal set in two periods, around 1980 and the present day, following the same family across generations. When a housewife decides to stop performing her traditional duties and goes on a kind of domestic strike, the balance of power within the family is upended.
Decades later we see how the events of the past have shaped the next generation. With humour, warmth and a sharp social eye, the play explores marriage, the position of women, rebellion against traditional gender roles and the complex bond between mothers and daughters.
María played an American elocution teacher who had a formative influence on the mother.
The play premiered at Reykjavík City Theatre in February 2020, directed by the author, and was a great success.
Am I My Mother? is a well-made production, ingenious and true to itself. It is in direct dialogue with our times and raises pressing questions that the audience clearly feels and responds to – their reaction left no doubt that they appreciate good things: challenging material, clever handling, a striking design and superb acting.
Reviews
„Am I My Mother? by María Reyndal, staged by the Garpur women’s theatre company, is about a mother and daughter and the very different social circumstances they face. The play speaks directly to today’s debate about women’s experience, women’s liberation, the oppression of patriarchy and emotional trauma passed between generations.“
„Ensemble playing is in fact a superb quality of this production. María Ellingsen plays several roles and it is a pleasure to see her on stage – isn’t it time Icelandic professional theatre made more and better use of her talents?“
