The Maternity Monologues (Dream Up 2019) NYC Reviews and Tickets

69%

(8 Ratings)

Positive

63%

Mixed

25%

Negative

12%

Members say

Clever, Disappointing, Entertaining, Confusing, Slow

About the Show

Built upon the transcripts of real women, "The Maternity Monologues" seeks to demystify the experiences of pregnancy, birth, and motherhood. Part of Theater for the New City's Dream Up Festival.

From the show:

Written in the tradition of The Vagina Monologues, The Maternity Monologues is an episodic play featuring a unique chorus of all female voices working through the taboo subjects of pregnancy, birth, and child-rearing. Just as Eve Ensler’s play sought to break down the barriers of shame around the word vagina, and the recent Bush Theatre production Hijabi Monologues challenged stereotypes of Muslim women, The Maternity Monologues demystifies the female experience of pregnancy, birth, and mothering. Having trained as a BBC journalist the writer, Catherine Higgins-Moore interviewed women about their experiences of pregnancy and childbirth. She built on those transcripts adding fictional scenarios and voices, pairing them with current events to create honest and previously unspoken dialogues. At times darkly funny, sad, angry and isolated the voices in the play are an honest depiction of how these women feel about their changing bodies, finances, relationships, and mental and physical health as well as how they are valued from conception onwards. The play offers a uniquely honest look through fresh eyes at a brutal and beautiful timeless theme.

Show-Score Member Reviews (8)

Must see, Great writing, Great staging, Great acting, Exquisite

See it if you want to a fabulous show with great writing and great acting with a subject we can all embrace

Don't see it if British/Irish/Welsh/Cockney/American accents bother you. Each actress does one or more of these as a reflection of the individual on stage. Read more

A great idea, Touching, Uneven, Funny, Clever

See it if You’ve had a baby - or are planning to have one.

Don't see it if You have trouble with accents. You don’t shows that are a series of short scenes. Read more

Confusing, Relevant, Great acting, Entertaining, Clever

See it if Enjoy a show about trials and tribulations of maternity, the humorous and sad parts of pregnancy & motherhood. Are OK w/ a bare minimum set

Don't see it if you have difficulty with Irish accents. Aren't interested in maternity and motherhood. Read more

Intelligent, Thought-provoking, Great writing, Entertaining, Clever

See it if you enjoy short takes on the subject, some funny, some serious, well presented in a lively and demanding performance by four actors.

Don't see it if you have difficulty with accents - I lost some meaning not being able to catch every word. Lighting is harsh. You want a linear play.

Quirky, Fluffy, Clever, Disappointing, Confusing

See it if You have nothing else to do

Don't see it if You want to be entertained with meaningful acting

Cynical, Episodic, Slow, Good acting, Intelligent writing

See it if If you want to see the dark side of maternity, you've come to the right place. Written by a depressive on a bad day.

Don't see it if You like linear, plot or character-driven theater. This is a diatribe.

Resonant, Cliched, Disappointing

See it if you are expecting or had a child. You may enjoy some parts of the show

Don't see it if A linear story

Excruciating, Slow, Disappointing

See it if You know someone in the cast

Don't see it if I really wanted to like this show since it was compared to the Vagina Monologues. Unfortunately, I didn't. It was slow and boring. Read more

Trailer

Creative team

Theater for the New City

Producer

Catherine Higgins-Moore

Writer / Director