Past Reviews

Regional Reviews: Washington, D.C.

Mother Courage and Her Children
Arena Stage

Also see Susan's reviews of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Richard III


Nehal Joshi, Erin Weaver, Kathleen Turner, and Nicholas Rodriguez
The last time Kathleen Turner appeared at Arena Stage in Washington, she was playing the outspoken journalist Molly Ivins. Now she's back as the indomitable Mother Courage, making her way as a peddler in wartime, in Molly Smith's immersive, sometimes exhausting production of Bertolt Brecht's Mother Courage and Her Children.

Working with David Hare's immediate, profane translation of Brecht's 1939 play, Smith sets the action in an abstract landscape (designed by Todd Rosenthal) with concrete ramps and an industrial-looking staircase to an upper level. In the Fichandler Stage, the audience looks down on the action from all four sides, serving as witnesses to the words and actions that go into a war.

While Brecht has a lot to say about war and commerce, he doesn't just whack the audience over the head. He lets the bitter ironies add up: a glorious act in war is a hanging offense in peacetime, the identities of besiegers and the besieged are sometimes difficult to keep straight, and people need supplies even in the worst situations.

Turner dominates her scenes as she growls, haggles, flirts roughly, and tries to manipulate the world around her. She also sings in a deep but melodic voice; this production features several songs with engaging tunes by James Sugg—clearly inspired by the work of Brecht's longtime collaborator, Kurt Weill—and several members of the ensemble also play instruments.

Mother Courage may seem amoral, selling her wares to all, regardless of affiliation, but—as Turner makes clear—she has a bone-deep love for her children and at least part of her drive for financial security is that she wants to keep them safe. It's giving nothing away to say that things don't work out well for impulsive Eilif (Nicholas Rodriguez), sweet but dim Swiss Cheese (Nehal Joshi), and mute Kattrin (Erin Weaver).

Jack Willis gives a bumptious performance as a cook who meets up with Mother Courage, and Rich Foucheux ably balances sincerity and smarm as a chaplain. Meg Gillentine blazes in the minor role of a camp follower and prostitute.

Arena Stage
Mother Courage and Her Children
January 31st - March 9th
By Bertolt Brecht, translated by David Hare
Mother Courage: Kathleen Turner
Kattrin: Erin Weaver
Eilif/Soldier: Nicholas Rodriguez
Swiss Cheese: Nehal Joshi
The Cook: Jack Willis
The Chaplain: Rick Foucheux
Yvette: Meg Gillentine
Soldier/Ensemble: Monalisa Arias
Peasant Wife/Ensemble/Dance Captain: Lise Bruneau
Soldier/Ensemble: Jed Feder
The Voice/Ensemble: Rayanne Gonzales
Recruiting Officer/Ensemble: Jacobi Howard
Sergeant/Ensemble: Dan Istrate
Music Coordinator/Ensemble: Nathan Charles Koci
Commander-in-Chief/Ensemble: James Konicek
Man with Patch/Ensemble: Jesse Terrill
Old Colonel/Ensemble: John Leslie Wolfe
Directed by Molly Smith
Fichandler Stage, Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, Sixth and Maine avenues SW
Washington, DC
Ticket Information: 202-488-3300 or www.arenastage.org


Photo: Teresa Wood