←Recommendations of BRIGHTLY BURNING

It's often said that a eulogy is the truth wrapped in fiction. In this short play by Julie Brandon, we see the past as it happened -- or as Maggie would have us see it -- in her tumultuous relationship with her mother who never let a kind word escape her lips until after she has passed on. The depth of character in this play is so strong that you can't help but wonder at the strength in both of them, and the power of understanding and forgiveness shines through.

We hear Dr. Margaret invent a past while we see what actually transpired. The juxtaposition between the two is striking. Far from being a font of loving support, Delores is hard and unyielding and discouraging at every turn. She is a vividly drawn, seeming monster. Margaret discovers her true motivation and her suppressed dreams only after Delores dies. The portrait of Delores that emerges is poignant and leaves Margaret filled with both gratitude and regret. A lovely work.

As Margaret gives her speech extolling the encouragement her mother gave her in her education and career, a series of flashbacks reveal a mother who was anything but supportive. But which portrait is accurate? Neither? Both? Julie Brandon tells her characters' story with deep empathy as she skillfully manipulates the audience's expectations. Brightly Burning is a worthy addition to the canon of works exploring the often fraught relationships between mothers and daughters.

It can be difficult to take stock of the gifts that our parents give us while they’re alive. In Brightly Burning, this engagingly structured drama from Julie Brandon, this sentiment rings poignantly true. I was honored to present this play as part of the Playwrights Thriving Reading Series and recommend it for anyone seeking plays engaging meaningfully with family relationships and the ways our upbringing can inform how far we go, and what legacies we leave behind.

This play takes us on a journey with Maggie/Dr. Margaret, who thought she understood her cold, hard mother. Until she is given a gift of artistic enlightenment, possibly too late for mom and Maggie. But not too late for others if Dr Margaret has a say. And that is the beauty of this story. Understanding why people are the way they are, and with perspective, allowing people to be who they can and should be.

A gripping and emotionally surprising piece that will definitely take you on quite the journey. Rich characters established; great roles here for actors to take on. An excellent examination of family relationships and all the messiness often contained therein. This play certainly burns bright.

An epistolary saga of a relationship between an estranged mother and daughter. This short play is well-structured between an acceptance speech and a letter which guides us firsthand through two very different perspectives and tugs at the heart. Loved the ending. The important sense of closure to a poignant piece.

What a heart-breaking piece that shines a light on family dysfunction and religious guilt. JULIE BRANDON has given the mic to a strong and passionately talented woman and the pain that kept her light burning. Powerful.