All About My Mother

Synopsis

All About My Mother is a passionate hymn to the strength and spirit of women; a kaleidoscopic drama embracing motherhood, love and desire; a homage to the great Hollywood movies. Following the tragic death of her beloved son, Manuela goes to Barcelona in search of the father he never knew. But before she can exorcise her guilt, she gets caught up in the lives of three women: Agrado, a long-lost transvestite friend, Rosa, a young nun in search of love, and Huma Rojo, the famous actress her son so admired. Just as Manuela's life begins to have meaning again, her son's father returns and her journey of discovery and forgiveness comes full circle.

Our Review:

5 September 2007

This new play by Samuel Adamson is all about Pedro Almodovar and yet very little to do with the famous Spanish film director whose 1999 Oscar-winning film provides the plot, the title and the characters. Adamson has moved Barcelona, the setting for most of the story, much closer temperamentally to his own Southwark Fair, a recent hit at the National Theatre.

The events remain much the same: Manuela lives in Madrid with her teenage son Esteban, an aspiring writer. For a birthday treat, she takes him to see A Streetcar Named Desire starring Huma Rojo, an ageing actress he particularly admires, but he’s killed in a street accident while pursuing the diva for an autograph. Grief-stricken, Manuela returns to Barcelona to find the transsexual father Esteban never knew, whose name he shares and who is unaware of his existence. She meets again street characters from 18 years previously and gives motherly comfort, both to Huma, the actress who is tourin...

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Latest User Review

Adroid Mortox - 7 November 2007:

Very enjoyable. While one or two of the supporting cast were weak, Lesley Maville, Diana Rigg and Mark Gatiss more than made up for it. A good show worth checking out....

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