Presented by Kehau Jackson, Maggie Wood & Kate Burr
Reviewed Sunday 27 February 2011
http://www.adelaidefringe.com.au
http://www.threestuffedmums.com
http://www.theboywithtapeonhisface.com
http://www.themaid.com.au
Venue: The Barn Performance Space, The Maid Hotel, 1 Magill Road, Stepney
Season: 1-5, 8-12 Mar at 7.30pm
Tickets: $25.00/$22.00
Duration: 60 mins
Bookings: FringeTix 1300 FRINGE (374 643) or http://www.adelaidefringe.com.au
The surest sign that a comedian has got it right is the knowing nods of the audience. In a room of predominantly women, there was a constant breeze from such enthusiastic acknowledgements, accompanied by the occasional outburst of verbal recognition.
Three talented local comedians take a progressive look at motherhood but it’s not just for women. Men relate just as easily to the stories of parenting as they unfold from the lips of three stuffed mums.
Kate Burr is Physically Stuffed, in the throes of raising a 17 month old toddler. From stories of pregnancy, Hi-5 and The Wiggles, through to ‘helpful’ husbands and the necessity of chocolate, she hits the nail on the head with every swipe. She’s animated, loud, and in love with her child, but sometimes she just doesn’t want to be a mum.
The delightful Maggie Wood is Mentally Stuffed, and it shows in her wonderfully exhausted delivery. Surviving the daily trauma of a teenage son has taken its toll. She discusses the amount they eat, designer clothing, an addiction to texting, and that dreadful teenage boy smell that permeates from their locked bedroom.
Pint sized Kehau Jackson is larger than life as she tells you to Get Stuffed. She’s been through the mill and her kids have flown the coup. As an empty nester, her parental stutter has disappeared and she can walk around the house naked. Best of all, she has grandchildren, so revenge is only a glass of cordial away.
The trio close each of their acts with a song which they’ve devised themselves, and they bookend the entire show with the title song sung to the tune of Three Blind Mice. The concept was developed by the performers, who worked together in 2007 in an award winning production of Titters.
This is laugh-out-loud comedy from all three ladies. At only an hour, its far too short, but if it were any longer, the audience may be just as stuffed from laughing. Motherhood may be the world’s oldest profession but by all accounts, it’s also the most popular.
Highly recommended.
Reviewed by Rod Lewis, Performing Arts Critic, Glam Adelaide.