Three Mothers

by Lynn Hoffman

Three Mothers explores the lives of three women at pivotal moments in their personal lives through the lens of one of our nation’s defining moments: the day our country was seized by the sudden, inexplicable disappearance of Michael and Alex Smith and the media sensation their disappearance created. The time is October 25, 1994. Susan Smith, Diane Madsen, and Diane’s daughter Lizzy are the three mothers the...

Three Mothers explores the lives of three women at pivotal moments in their personal lives through the lens of one of our nation’s defining moments: the day our country was seized by the sudden, inexplicable disappearance of Michael and Alex Smith and the media sensation their disappearance created. The time is October 25, 1994. Susan Smith, Diane Madsen, and Diane’s daughter Lizzy are the three mothers the title references. During the 9-day search for the two brothers, these three mothers’ lives unexpectedly intersect to create a collage of viewpoints about life, death, motherhood and its ever-changing role in this country, and ultimately the profound choice that each of these mothers must make.

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Three Mothers

Recommended by

  • The Depot for New Play Readings: Three Mothers

    “Three Mothers” dares to dispense with romanticized views of pregnancy and motherhood and considers how sexual abuse, abortion, and postpartum depression affect women and their families. The drama’s center is the harrowing true story of Susan V. Smith, convicted of drowning her two sons. Hoffman masterfully reveals Smith as a complicated woman, both amoral and traumatized by abuse and poverty. To soften the play’s incendiary themes, Hoffman employs creative staging and sharp dialog. Highly recommended for festivals and theaters committed to social justice and women’s stories and to the...

    “Three Mothers” dares to dispense with romanticized views of pregnancy and motherhood and considers how sexual abuse, abortion, and postpartum depression affect women and their families. The drama’s center is the harrowing true story of Susan V. Smith, convicted of drowning her two sons. Hoffman masterfully reveals Smith as a complicated woman, both amoral and traumatized by abuse and poverty. To soften the play’s incendiary themes, Hoffman employs creative staging and sharp dialog. Highly recommended for festivals and theaters committed to social justice and women’s stories and to the attention of the Kilroys.

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization The Depot for New Play Readings, Year 2020