Motherhood, the musical at Trinity Rep

By Richard Pacheco

“Motherhood, the musical” is a merry romp into the world of motherhood with all its joys, trials and tribulations.  This spirited ensemble cast is seething with energy and talent. This makes for a shared onstage charisma that is unreliable and delightful.  There is no plot, but it really doesn’t seem to matter that much for this fun musical revue.

The so called story is framed around a baby shower for a first time mother, hosted by three of her closest friends, all mothers with vast experience in these matters. These pros are amused by the first timer’s assumptions about the nature of motherhood and what it will mean to her life.

The three friends come from different backgrounds. Brooke is an attorney and mother who’s smart and saucy as she balances her careers as mother and lawyer with skill and humor. Barb is a stay at home mom with all that entails and she is down to earth and realistic about what she does and how it is perceived. Tasha is a recently single mom, trying to adjust to those difficult circumstances and all it means to her. What all this means to the productions is loads of fun, sometimes sassy and raunchy, at other times full of sentiment without gooey sentimentality.

The cast is talented and vibrant. Everyone of them has an excellent singing voice and terrific stage presence.  They work very well together merging their talent and sheer assurance and vigor to the highest levels.

Lisa Manuli is Amy, the soon to be surprised first time mother to be. Ms. Manuli is energetic and poised as the late pregnancy stage mother to be. She is a terrific mixture of unbridled enthusiasm and inexperience. She sings “I’m Having A Baby” with liveliness and conviction.  In a totally change of pace, she becomes her own mother for a song, Grannyland” and is charming.

Becca McCoy is wonderful as the confident, smart mother/lawyer Brooke. She can be outrageous and touching by turns. She is perky and zesty, like a spicy sauce.  She is outrageous, hilarious and magic in “The Kids Are Finally Asleep.”

Jewel Lucien is a delight as newly single mother, Tasha. She is saucy and spicy, with an great singing voice. In a song like “Every Other Weekend,” she is poised and amazing with sheer vocal range and finesse. She is also excellent in “Minivan.”

Mary Kathryn Kaye is fun and down to earth as Barb, the stay at home mom. She is brisk and sincere and she bounds across the stage honestly assessing her role as stay at home mom. Singing “Mommy, Mommy, Mommy” she is utter delight, something to relish. Singing “Danny’s Mom” she is touching and endearing.

Together, they make magic going far beyond the non existent story line. The songs her are pure fun, alternating between full of sentiment to raunchy and saucy. There is some great ensemble singing here as well. They are always right on the mark with their oomph and their impeccable singing voices.  Their take offs on songs like “How Great They Were” ( with the music of”The Way We Were”) about the state of their breasts after children are raunchy and pure fun. “Costco Queen,” is another gem about shopping at Costco. The take off on “Good Lovin’” called Good Drugs is a hoot.

Lisa Shriver directs with aplomb and gusto. She keeps it all moving merrily along with her choreography as well which is bright and breezy.  Musical direction by Johnny Rodgers is precise and perky.

Together they bring an often raucous wit based on experience within the script to life vividly.  It is sheer delight despite its lack of plot and story, the motherhood references and targets for humor are well worth it.  It merrily romps along from feeling like the size of a minivan to actually driving one, to mothers and mother-in-laws when you are pregnant to sex. All of it done with flair, unbridled exuberance and a remarkable ensemble cast that never fails in talent or sheer energy. This was brought to you by the same folks who last year brought to Trinity Repertory’s, “Menopause,” last year, GFour productions.

It will continue at Trinity until July 1. All tickets are $44. You can go online to: https://tickets.trinityrep.com/Online/default.asp?BOset::WSseatSearch::Query::Clause::10::value=Motherhood or call the box office at: 401-3514242. There are discount for more than ten tickets.