Mom’s Gift: special show in Mammoth
Don’t miss a one-of-a-kind opportunity to see a special Eastern Sierra staged reading of playwright Phil Olson’s “Mom’s Gift” at the Edison Theatre at 7 p.m. on March 23.
Olson is a successful playwright, known for his “Don’t Hug Me” series — including “Don’t Hug Me,” “Don’t Hug Me, I’m Pregnant,” and “A Nice Family Gathering” — and “Mom’s Gift” is a sneak peek at his newest play-in-progress.
Making an exclusive stop in Mammoth Lakes, Olson presents “Mom’s Gift” in a staged reading, directed by MLRT Artistic Director Shira Dubrovner. There is no charge for the opportunity to hear this play, read by a talented cast of locals and a member of the LA theatre where Olson did an earlier reading, and then spent time in a talk-back with the audience.
“He’s playwright who actively seeks to hear from the audience. Phil is a friend from the LA Theatre where we met. When he contacted me about doing this reading, I thought what a great opportunity for people to share in the creative process,” Dubrovner said.
Billed as a comedy with a heart, in Olson’s new play, “Mom’s Gift,” Mom has been dead for 11 months and shows up at her husband’s birthday party as a ghost with a mission. Much like Clarence in “It’s A Wonderful Life,” she has to accomplish a task to “earn her wings.”
The hitch: what the task actually is remains a mystery. The quandry is complicated by the fact that the only person who can hear or see Mom is her eldest daughter, Kat, who has been ordered by the court to spend Dad’s birthday with him as part of her “anger management program.”
“He’s already done a reading of the play in New York and Los Angeles, and several rewrites since then based on what he learned.”
The staged reading takes place on the Edison Stage and on this one night only. Reservations are recommended. “We are thrilled to be able to share such a unique opportunity with the community,” Dubrovner added.
The Edison Theatre is located at 100 College Parkway, off of Meridian Blvd., adjacent to Cerro Coso College in Mammoth Lakes. For reservations: call 760.934.6592 or visit www.edisontheatre.org.
