Dolls, savior of the theater scene/a look at the show “Mom”

Theateronline.ir: the puppet show “Mom” written and directed by Elham Salj Mahmoudi is one of the works that participated in the 19th Tehran Mubarak Puppet Show Festival. This play, which is only for adults, has been on stage since November 8th in the shadow hall of The city theater and its performance continues until November 1st.

“Mom” puppet show can be considered as a happy event of a sympathetic and boundless group that once again presents the relationship of parents and children to the society with a puppet show and creative performance. A very strong show with a simple language but full of meaning and depth .

In terms of performance, the “actors” of the show have skillfully managed to put their presence at the service of the director’s performance idea. The actors’ bodies have become a part of the dolls’ bodies and made their presence more believable.

The stage design is such that the space is divided into two parts and two forms of the life of the boy character doll are represented. One space is related to the life of mother and child and the other space which is located at the end of the stage is where a square structure is installed to show the son’s distance from his mother. The square structure rotates and shows the futility of the boy’s actions. The higher he goes, the more he falls and gets more bored and frustrated.

The narrative structure of the show “Mom” is based on psychotherapy. In this path, when the current relationship between the son and the mother is asked, we see the son who has turned into two bodies and utters two opposing words. One speech is related to the body of positive thinking and one speech is related to the body of bitter thinking.

Proper lighting and creating attractive puppets and perfect puppeteering, beautiful music and in harmony with the show and finally the correct direction of Elham Salj Mahmoudi, as if this show is a part of itself.

Dolls are an escape from the reality of everyday life. They fertilize the imagination and allow unexperienced spaces to be experienced through their presence.

The show “Mom” shows well the state of the modern family today. In the absence of adequate childbearing in the society and with the aging of the population, most families will face the problem of elderly parents who need constant care and maintenance.

As a result, children are forced to shoulder the responsibility of this care and have less presence in social spaces. Let’s not forget that entrusting elderly parents to a social institution such as a “nursing home” is still reprehensible and taking care of parents in their old age is a moral duty for children.

Therefore, it will not be surprising that the boy in the show “Mom” can never become independent and organize his relationship with his mother in a natural way. Even with death and absence, the mother’s body gives identity and gives meaning to the son’s life, and she keeps coming back to the scene to be aware of her child’s current and daily life.

“Mom” is the story of modern man and his fruitless search to achieve the myth of success and happiness! A myth that follows you like a mirage in the desert takes everything you can, and when you reach it, you see that you have lost everything for an empty illusion. The right music and the place chosen for this puppet theater, the rhythm of movement and life of all of us in this endless round.

The show “Mom” is a mirror in front of us to review past days and lives. This review may be bitter, but in the midst of this bitterness, many sweet and even forgotten memories come to mind and are reviewed.

This show has been extended for one week until December 1st. You can visit Tiwall’s page to buy tickets for “Mom” show.