On paper, Articulate Elbow’s Mother F should sit comfortably within the ethos of the festival, the premise being a celebratory exploration of the many techniques of motherhood. As a devised piece, the two female cast members weaved a complex physical cabaret act which, sadly, lacked clarity. Based loosely on the notion of two sisters going through their mother’s things after her death, the narrative bounced back and forth through time, with unclear multiple characterisations and acting that was often uncomfortably stylised.
Fundamentally, I think the ‘exploration’ of motherhood spiralled out of control.
From the very beginning a confusing amalgamation of theatrical genres were portrayed in rapid succession; without explanation, pseudo-cabaret cockney babies were swiftly followed by robotic polyglot mothers, linked with a list of linguistic varieties on the word ‘mother’. I was cringing at the baby stand-up act but soon wished for it back when the following scene saw us watching a cruise-ship disco dance dubbed occasionally with wild shouted motherly activities. Cutting forwards, the mother’s death was explored through a senseless silent clown act, with water-filled wellies and the (very pleasant) soundtrack of Ave Maria. The cluttered theatrical techniques of the first half were replaced with a sentimental probe into the clutter of the mother’s attic, where the steps back in time seemed affected and, ultimately, unnatural.
However, one thing that must be said is that Isobel Ford’s half of the duo did provide a malleable and endearing canvas on which one really did want to make attempts to follow the narrative and I did feel it a shame that her subtlety was near-wasted amidst the confusion.
The show felt to me to be the result of a mothers’ meeting: a piece devised in an attempt to teach children the sacrifice of motherhood, allowing the other mothers out there to nod their heads in agreement to the disco music of their youth – the closing scene was a burlesque dance to the lyrics ‘Every mother we’ve just gotta celebrate’. Fundamentally, I think the ‘exploration’ of motherhood spiralled out of control. Although a brief on-stage explanation was given as to the reasoning behind the show, audience members were left feeling thoroughly bemused by the ping-pong popping, weed-smoking duo.
