Hadar Galron: I LOVE MAMA - Divadlo J. G. Tajovského

A comedy about the challenges of modern motherhood by the Jozef Gregor Tajovský Theatre.

This comedic play, featuring a cast of women, comes from the pen of contemporary Israeli playwright HADAR GALRON, who also took on the direction. Thanks to this, we have recognized for the first time in Slovakia the directorial handwriting of a world-renowned playwright, director, actress, stand-up comedian, and respected theatrical personality active in various multicultural environments. Female themes, the search for tolerance, and humor as a last resort are among her typical authorial traits. In addition to the play I LOVE MAMA, she has depicted such themes in her drama MIKVE, which is also well-known in our theatrical environment.

The production I LOVE MAMA brings to the stage nine women and three generations of one large family – from a loving grandmother to diverse daughters, a fresh bride, and granddaughters searching for their place in modern times. Humorous situations and witty dialogues capture, with a light touch, also the more serious aspects of motherhood: how to reconcile motherhood with a career, how to maintain a marriage alongside motherhood, how to have a child without a man, how to cope with an unexpected pregnancy, how to deal with postpartum depression, how to face an orthodox mother, how to find oneself, and what love tastes like.

The production is complemented by music from internationally renowned musician Itamar Gross and male characters embodied by a single actor. The unique production also involves prominent figures from the Slovak theatre scene, including Jozef Ciller, Eva Kleinová, Mária Danadová, and others. The role of the grandmother and great-grandmother of the family is alternated with guest actress Božidara Turzonovová from the Slovak National Theatre and Jana Pilzová.

This comedic, serious, and touching portrait of women from three generations is a refreshing title in the repertoire for audiences of all ages.

DEDICATION FROM THE AUTHOR AND DIRECTOR HADAR GALRON:
This presentation of the production I LOVE MAMA is lovingly dedicated to all mothers and fathers who have lost their children, and to the children who have lost their parents during the brutal terrorist pogrom by Hamas in Israel on the day of the premiere, October 7, 2023.

Slovak premiere: 
1st premiere October 6, 2023 / 2nd premiere October 7, 2023
Duration of performance: 120 min + intermission

Recommended for ages 15 and up.

CHARACTERS AND CAST

ABIGAIL: Mária Tóčik Knoppová
SIMCHA: Jana Pilzová / Božidara Turzonovová (guest)
ETI: Dana Karolová
TALLI: Iveta Marcineková
NOA: Barbora Špániková
LEA: Lucia Letková
ELLA: Dominika Výrostek Misárová
RIKI: Martina Chmelanová (guest)
ALMA: Ivona Petríková (guest)
GIDI, DOTAN, ZVIKA, RONI (and all other male characters): Ondřej Daniš

PRODUCTION TEAM

Direction: Hadar Galron
Translation: Mário Drgoňa
Set design: Jozef Ciller
dramaturgy: Darina Abrahámová
Dramaturgical collaboration: Uršuľa Turčanová
Costumes: Eva Kleinová
Music and rehearsals: Itamar Gross
Movement collaboration: Mária Danadová