By HEATHER RICH Daily Press staff
Jennie Fahn is your mother. She’s my mother, too.
In her new one-woman show, “You Mutha!” Fahn manages to transform herself into one mother after another, somehow resonating with each and every member of her audience. Whether she’s rhyming hysterically or dancing maniacally, you can literally feel her commitment to the subject at hand.
Fahn not only performs the hour-long show solo, she also wrote the whole thing with two kids running around, in between little league, playdates and tutoring. Although the joy and frustration of being a mother is forefront in this stellar performance, having a mother also is gloriously represented.
Hearing the commentary of Fahn’s own mother, I remembered when my own nutty mom called from Florida to make sure that the creaky window in my bedroom was shut. She heard there might be rain in LA that night. Nevermind that it was 2:30 a.m. her time, that she had already left me two messages warning me about the potential downpour, and that the last time she was out here we had the creaky window fixed just to calm her down.
It is these sentiments, these occurrences with our mothers that Fahn brings to light so well. Reminding us of the bittersweet relationship that is like no other in our lives. Good or bad, nobody gets it or gives it like your mother. The script is laugh-out-loud funny, the musical numbers not only amusing, but lyrically astute. Other than the misinformation regarding Dumbo’s mother, the entire play flows and feels dead on. Fahn is dripping with talent and the TV producers in attendance knew it. Whether you have a mother, are a mother, or think you might want to be one, see this play. Get a babysit-ter. I guarantee you won’t regret it.
“I’m a mom who knows what an ordeal it can be to go to the theater,” says Fahn. “By the time you drive, park, see the show, have a little nosh, drive home and pay the babysitter, it’s five hours and $300 later.”
As an added bonus, all the proceeds will go to benefiting the theater.
The remaining performances of “You Mutha!” are split between two local theaters. March 10-11, you can catch it at the Powerhouse Theater at 3116 2nd Ave. in Santa Monica. On March 19 and 26, Fahn will perform at the Santa Monica Playhouse at 1211 4th St. All shows begin at 8 p.m.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 5, 2004. Read the original PDF.