By Laurelle Walsh
The second annual Mother Experience Project, an evening of performance about mothering and the many facets of the mother/child relationship, will be presented at The Merc Playhouse in Twisp on Mother’s Day, May 10. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; the show starts at 7 p.m. Admission is by donation.
Ten women — not all of them mothers — will take the stage to present original works of storytelling, prose and poetry that “honor the experience of motherhood in all of its forms,” even mother-like relationships with aunts, sisters and friends, said organizer Lexi Koch.
“We’re going into it with a lot more confidence this year,” said Koch, who conceived the program in 2014 with Rose Weagant Olcott. Two performers, Maureen Collins and Kelleigh MacMillan, are returning for the second year, MacMillan with fresh poetry, and Collins with Part 2 of a story she began telling last spring.
The other participants — Maggie Coon, Sarah Schrock, Christina Stout, Lindsey Wayland, Teresa Mitchell and Subhaga Crystal Bacon — “are new voices that were called to be on stage,” said Koch, who will present her own work alongside co-producer Olcott.
“Many of the stories look at motherhood from angles quite different from last year,” Koch said. “Though each story is different, there’s an inter-connection between them. As a presenter, it feels good to know that there are more people out there having an experience similar to mine,” she said. “It’s pretty special.”
The contributors generated, wrote, polished and rehearsed their stories over a four-month period. “What’s really cool about the process is that it really is a process for each person,” Koch said. As the material unfolded, participants worked with Koch — a life coach — to help clarify the feelings that were generated along with their memories. They also worked with Olcott, who helped the writers edit their work.
“We all have a story,” said Koch. “A lot of us are really aching to tell our stories. Part of the therapeutic process is in the sharing.”
The program includes material that may not be suitable for all ages, according to the organizers. For more information, email simplytrust@yahoo.com or call Koch at 997-0664.
