MotherStruck
About the show
Presented by Rosie O' Donnell and the Culture Project and directed by Cynthia Nixon, this solo performance by spoken word artist Staceyann Chin is about her journey as a single gay mother and activist. More…
The world premiere of 'MotherStruck' sets forth Staceyann Chin’s personal journey to motherhood as a single woman, lesbian and activist who does not have health insurance or a “serious, stable financial set up,” but wants to have a child. Told through Chin’s uniquely personal and poetic lens, this solo show explores how the process changed her life and how she makes peace with what she learns from this profound experience.
"Writer-performer Staceyann Chin's new autobiographical solo show 'MotherStruck!' blazes an epic arc...Chin's script is well structured, funny, and moving, her comic delivery exhibits veteran game, and her physicality spans the gamut from sensual to gymnastic...This cathartic bullet-train ride is a confessional narrative about finding oneself...Ticket holders should come prepared to get on board and heed the conductor." Full Review
"What a story: The exposition alone is the stuff of several theatre pieces...Even if we can all agree that Chin is a genuine National Weather Service-certified force of nature, it's worth noting that this is the second comic production in one month to be directed by Cynthia Nixon, and both of them feature crack timing and an invigorating pace...Chin is a handful, but she is well aware of - and brazenly, joyfully - celebrates it. I'm betting you will, too." Full Review
"Staceyann Chin tells all of this with such energy that the stage cannot contain her...She seems the kind of person you want to befriend – indeed for the two hours of the show you do befriend her…It is easy to see the struggles in her life and the story of the birth and growth of her daughter and the struggles in her art and the story of the birth and growth of all theater art as one single unified story, glorious and inspiring." Full Review
"Ms. Chin has such a magnetic presence, with deep brown eyes that seem to give out light, that you might almost believe that she was unspooling her story for you alone...Ms. Chin’s easygoing radiance helps keep you hooked, even when the writing grows slightly slack. And certainly her story has plenty of hairpin curves and alarming surprises — no shortage of drama, in short." Full Review
"The result is pretty harrowing yet completely uplifting. Chin’s honesty about the challenges of motherhood are so relatable and is a dose of reality that all women face. I found myself nodding and smiling in commiseration despite our different experiences...I’m not typically a one-man show lover, but 'MotherStruck!' was different. It’s special and a show you need to see, one that I hope you see." Full Review
"As her engrossing new piece makes clear, the past decade has kept her busy with other things...Directed astutely by Cynthia Nixon, 'MotherStruck!' has an energy that the stage seems barely able to contain; at several points, Chin strides through the aisles at Culture Project, daringly intimate and radiantly generous with her experience. It’s great to hear her again." Full Review
"Ms. Chin, under director Cynthia Nixon’s steady and nurturing hand, maneuvers around Kristin Robinson’s multipurpose set with incredible dexterity - rolling, jumping, lying on the floor, running, sliding, and sitting as she relates her engaging story...Staceyann Chin makes all that we long for from our past possible through a determined effort or create our own futures. Plan to see her remarkable one-woman show." Full Review
"She is a true storyteller, which is pretty rare these days of being addicted to our mobiles...It's not always a happy story, in fact there are parts where I teared up, but I really felt Stacyann's pain and longing - and I was rooting for her. She portrayed her pregnancy powerfully and totally realistically." Full Review
"Ms. Chin is a talented storyteller, but an hour and forty minutes with an intermission is too much for a one-person show. Hyperkinetic, Ms. Chin uses the theatre like her own playground and you are never sure where she is going to land...Ms. Chin’s intensity is appealing. director Cynthia Nixon does keep the show moving and it is obvious she relates to this material. It was hard to connect to this show because I just found myself questioning its motive." Full Review
"While Ms. Chinn is an exacting performer, the material lacks focus and direction...I am guessing she does have a specific point of view, but in this production it has not been sussed out...There is an important story hidden in this monologue. It deserves to be heard...It is not enough to tell a good story, which Ms. Chinn does in no uncertain terms...The story loses its drama. And drama is why we go to the theatre." Full Review
See it if you love honest storytelling that will make you laugh and cry
Don't see it if you can't hear the sometimes brutal truths of a woman's journey to motherhood
See it if You have lived in New York for the last thirty years, done a lot of crazy stuff and want to laugh so hard you cry
Don't see it if Someone in your group is uncomfortable with sexual themes &/or non-gender conforming women
Also Thank you Cynthia and Rosie for making this happen - it was great
See it if You appreciate an original voice. Staceyann Chin is frank, strong, funny and fearless. A resoundingly brave acting triumph.
Don't see it if You are uncomfortable with graphic talk about love and sex, in all of its forms and glory.
See it if Stacyann's story is very powerful.
Don't see it if U must see it.
See it if You love great solo performers in their element telling their life's story. Staceyann Chin is a force to be reckoned with.
Don't see it if You generally get bored by solo performance.
See it if you'd enjoy revealing, personal and moving - but very funny - theatre. It's all about growing up and the search & struggle for family.
Don't see it if you can't abide strong language and intimate revelations, or references to sexuality. or really don't like one person shows
See it if you're a fan of spoken word/poetry. You want to see something different, offbeat. You like powerful, intense performances
Don't see it if you're easily offended by dicey language, you don't like one person shows
See it if you enjoying hearing how an artistic person struggles to make a living and start a family.
Don't see it if you're close-minded.
See it if They like really well written one woman shows with a message
Don't see it if If you don't like intimate off-Broadway one woman show
See it if great one-woman show. Riveting performance and engrossing story. Powerful and honest.
Don't see it if you don't like one-person shows or women's issues.
See it if You enjoy 1 woman shows and can identify with being (or wanting to be) a parent. Chin has written and performs her story exceptionally well
Don't see it if You don't like shows centered around LGBT characters or dislike one woman shows.
See it if You can 3 shows left
Don't see it if You don't like good theater
See it if You like witty writing and clever staging.
Don't see it if You don't want a lecture.
See it if Want to understand a true journey.
Don't see it if N/a
See it if you like to be move to tears and laugh your head off
Don't see it if you don't like women
See it if You ever thought about being a parent or if you were ever young and had a dream.
Don't see it if You don't have a funny bone or empathy.
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