MOURNING SONG

By
Samantha Simmonds-Ronceros
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A NoHo Arts theatre review of the Group Rep’s MOURNING SONG written by Brent Beerman, directed by Mareli Mitchel-Shields and produced by Lee Redmond.
L-R Paul Anthony Kelly, Lloyd Pedersen, Amy Earhart, Kathi Chaplar, Bonnie Snyder. Photo by Doug Engalla.

[NoHo Arts District, CA] –  A NoHo Arts theatre review of the Group Rep’s Mourning Song written by Brent Beerman, directed by Mareli Mitchel-Shields and produced by Lee Redmond.  

I wasn’t at all prepared for how moving this production would be.  Bring Tissues!! Mourning Song is the story of Brigid, whose lost memories of her mother and her birthplace of Ireland before she immigrated to the US and was placed in an orphanage are re-emerging. She finds these vital links to her past because she has a stroke. The stroke unlocks her mind and the memory of her mother singing her an Irish lullaby.  What begins as just auditory hallucinations become visual ones. As she becomes more adept at communicating with this ‘magical gift,’ she is able to explain to her two children who are by her side during strange and terrifying time who she really is and where she came from.

A NoHo Arts theatre review of the Group Rep’s MOURNING SONG written by Brent Beerman, directed by Mareli Mitchel-Shields and produced by Lee Redmond.
L-R Bonnie Snyder, Amy Earhart, Paul Anthony Kelly. Photo by Doug Engalla.

Mourning Song is a truly beautiful story and this simply staged and wonderfully acted Group Rep production is one of the most effective of their plays that I have seen. It’s a tear jerker of course, but there’s much more to Mourning Song than the sadness of ‘Brigid’s’ story. It’s a really wonderfully written play with vivid interesting characters and a lovely narration that takes us through the story and explains the fascinating medical ‘miracle’ that allows this family to find out who they really are before it’s too late.

A NoHo Arts theatre review of the Group Rep’s MOURNING SONG written by Brent Beerman, directed by Mareli Mitchel-Shields and produced by Lee Redmond.
L-R Amy Earhart, Paul Anthony Kelly. Photo by Doug Engalla.
A NoHo Arts theatre review of the Group Rep’s MOURNING SONG written by Brent Beerman, directed by Mareli Mitchel-Shields and produced by Lee Redmond.
L-R Bonnie Snyder, Kathi Chaplar. Photo by Doug Engalla.

As usual, Group Rep’s casting is superb and these fine actors really make this brilliant play ‘sing,’ so to speak. The play allows us to share this family’s tragedy and triumph in a very touching and human way. It’s very funny as well as moving, which is such a true telling of this intimate and emotional moment in their lives.  

A NoHo Arts theatre review of the Group Rep’s MOURNING SONG written by Brent Beerman, directed by Mareli Mitchel-Shields and produced by Lee Redmond.
L-R Kathi Chaplar, Bonnie Snyder, Paul Anthony Kelly, Amy Earhart. Photo by Doug Engalla.

The performances are wonderful and very real and you feel thoroughly drawn into their remarkable story from the very first moment. It’s a rare and thrilling collision of excellent play selection, casting and direction. I loved it!!

I highly recommend Mourning Song and Group Rep…don’t miss it!!

Tickets: 

https://thegrouprep.com/show/mourning-song

The Cast

Brent Beerman (Dr. Ritter/shared role – Performs 9/1, 9/5,9/7,9/8, 9/12, 9/14 & 9/15), Kathi Chaplar (Mamai), Amy Earhart (Marie), Paul Anthony Kelly (Ben/shared role – Performs 8/15, 8/17, 8/18, 8/22, 8/24, 8/25, 8/29, 8/31, & 9/1), Lloyd Pedersen (Dr. Ritter/shared role – Performs 8/15, 8/17, 8/18, 8/22, 8/24, 8/25/ 8/29 & 8/31). Alex Scyocurka (Ben/shared role – Performs 9/5, 9/7, 9/8, 9/12/, 9/14 & 9/15), and Bonnie Snyder (Brigid).

The Team

The production team includes Lee Redmond (Producer), Mitchel/Redmond (Set Design), Robbie Myles (Lighting Design), John Harvey and Mikaela Padilla  (Sound Design), Cynthia Bryant (Assistant to the Director), Alex Scyocurka (Assistant to the Director), Ramona Reeves (Irish Advisor), John Ledley (Technical Operator), Kristin Stancato (Online Marketing), Jackie Shearn (Social Media), Denise Downer (Marketing), Doug Haverty (Graphic Design), Doug Engalla (Promotional Video/Photography), and Nora Feldman (Publicity).