Love; Mum - A Response

Love; Mum was so fucking real. It was about five mothers who were vain, boujee, bitter, anxious, drunk and pious (sometimes, all at once). This story was refreshingly honest about the way mothers defy perceived limitations of any of their (innumerable) roles.

Love; Mum boldly introduced the audience to exaggerated versions of women who felt familiar. Every character was as human as the chip on your aunty’s shoulder (that she earned), or the sass in your overachieving sister’s (condescending) voice. From a housebound new mum to an influencer with a selfie addiction, these mothers were flawed and that was the point.

Through Love; Mum, Sela Faletolu-Fasi told of sisterhood and motherhood with gritty compassion for the ugliest parts of both. Forgiveness, love and loyalty were explored as hardwon rewards for surviving harrowing manifestations of prideful wrath. The sisters in this play spat venom and held grudges for a decade at a time. But they also helped each other pick up the pieces over and over again. They had each other’s back like their lives depended on it (‘cause they kinda did). This relatable contradiction came to fore frequently.

When I left Basement Theatre after watching Love; Mum, it became clear to me that Faletolu-Fasi shared this story for the mothers who are too hard on themselves, and the sisters who are too hard on each other. I thought about the way that we (women) often pull away from our communities when we need them the most… Ostracising ourselves and punishing our sisters when we all (inevitably) fail to meet society’s ridiculous expectations. Destructive distractions and denial flourish in the absence of connection, and turning on the ones we love comes easily when we don’t trust our own reflections. Love; Mum reminded me that Instagram followers and pay rises don’t mean shit if you can’t face yourself, or tell the girls how you actually are.

Love; Mum felt autobiographical. Real tears. Real talk. Real love. If you’re into true stories told by the experts, this one is for you.