You know when someone comes back from a whirlwind trip to an exotic destination, and when they come home, they can’t wait to share the incredible highs and unbelievable moments of their travels with you? That’s Burning Mom – An inspiring comedy where you’re at the edge of your seat, listening with anticipation, living vicariously through the storyteller. Laughing, crying, and having feelings of anxiety, excitement, and awe as you hear of every memorable detail and obstacle overcome.
Burning Mom’s premise is of a 63-year-old retired widow going on an RV trip from Calgary to the Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert, after suddenly losing her husband of 45 years. But this show is not heavy with grief and sadness. Yes, Dorothy, the lead character, is lost and lonely, but she doesn’t sit around and mope about it. She pulls up her sleeves and decides “Hey, I’m going to do this trip that my husband had always wanted to do, even if I don’t know how to drive an RV, and it’s going to be amazing.”
Burning Mom is a captivating, one-woman monologue. Susinn McFarlen does a fantastic job of verbalizing Dorothy’s liberating journey to find joy and adventure in her life again. She recounts the experience of going to Burning Man with such excited emotion that we feel like we are taking every step of the journey with her: of the unexpected decision to get in the RV and go, the very involved preparations to get ready for the road trip, all the challenges she encounters on the road, and the awesomeness and relief when she finally arrives at her destination. Hearing all her thoughts bubble out out loud, her fears, her joy, her memories, her anxieties, the adrenaline rush, tumultuous emotions – her bravery, are all very real.
I could not believe how enjoyable listening to one woman tell her story alone on the stage, with nothing but a stationary RV “backdrop”, thoughtful lighting, apt music, and timely sound effects to help, was. The first half was thoroughly entertaining. Non-stop chuckles, giggles, and laughter as Dorothy recounts her stumbling journey to get to Burning Man. I was fully invested on hearing what happens next, now that she’s finally arrived at the festival in the desert, in the wee hours of the night, pitch black with only stars in the sky. Thunderous applause, and it was only intermission time.
We thought keeping the theatre dark was all part of the act, since it was “night time” in the desert. So, when the announcement was made that the 2nd half of the show was cancelled due to a power outage, I was like “what power outage?” A quick look out the lobby window revealed a Granville-Island-wide blackout! That didn’t stop us from marching back into the theatre to give Susinn and Burning Mom’s talented crew, a resounding standing ovation. Fabulous Opening Night performance!
Burning Mom is based on playright and director Mieko Ouchi’s real-life story of her dad’s unexpected passing and her mom’s resulting self-rediscovery. This moving journey of her mom’s life-changing experience inspires us all to step out of our comfort zone, be brave, find hope from loss, persevere through challenges, and rediscover the joys in life.
I’m so happy to have been able to share this experience with my mom, and on her actual her birthday! (She hasn’t seen a play in almost 4 decades.) Even though we only got to enjoy one half of the show, it was a fantastic one. Highly recommend Burning Mom. I’ll have to revisit to find out how the story ends!
Burning Mom runs at the Arts Club Theatre’s Granville Island Stage until April 24th.
Thank you Hartley PR and The Arts Club Theatre Company for having us.
📍Arts Club Theatre – Granville Island Stage (1585 Johnson St., Vancouver BC)
