←Recommendations of The Worst Mother in the World

A moving look at parenthood beyond the veil of perfection women struggle to live up too. The truth of it is a lot more complicated. Well done.

Society's expectations of motherhood often require superhuman perfection, despite the fact that part of parenting is being human. This play beautifully captures the common doubts and fears of motherhood, and the powerful vulnerability it takes to express those doubts and fears.

I saw "The Worst Mother in the World" produced by Halcyon in Chicago. This play shows the anxiety of parenthood in ways I've never seen before. It's rare that a play gets me feeling the feelings of the characters, but I felt unbelievably anxious for these mothers. Neither being a parent nor being a child is always easy, and in this play we get to see that yearning to be better, but feeling incapable of changing. Kari Bentley-Quinn shows us the complexity of real life and avoids any cliche trappings of parent/child relationships. It's a smart and powerful play.

When a mother blames her daughter for something that isn't the daughter's fault the fallout can result in some serious intergenerational trauma. Quinn dives into this uncomfortable subject by giving us a window into the emotional upheaval surrounding new motherhood leaving us with no easy answers. There are some great roles for women in this all female cast play and some gentle humor to offset the heavy subject matter.

This is a necessary play about an incredibly real side of motherhood that is too often swept under the rug (and almost never dramatized). Kari Bentley-Quinn, here, not only tackles the issue of emotional distance and motherhood but does so through three-dimensional characters we see bits of ourselves in.

A moving play about dark underbelly of motherhood. It asks the question, "What happens when you don't have the capacity to love your child," and it does it with both humor and honesty. All the characters are both flawed and sympathetic.

A deeply honest look at motherhood, anxiety, and depression. The writing is truly gripping-- sweet, funny, and as I said, deeply honest. We need more stories like this, especially in today's political climate!

Really good and honest take on motherhood. We need more stories covering the reality of motherhood like this in the media. Quinn does a great job at managing these three very different women and leading us through the each of their own particular battles with their mom and/or daughter.

A deeply compelling and honest glimpse, at motherhood, depression, and loneliness. A very excitingly feminist piece that we're excited to have as one of our Fall Festival Finalists!

This play brings up so many themes that I care about - motherhood, depression, anxiety, loneliness. Funny and sad and very honest at the same time, and WOMEN JUST TALKING TO WOMEN - my favourite thing!