This is Mary Brown

Winsome Brown in a scene from “This Is Mary Brown” (Photo credit: Jenny Anderson)

This is Mary Brown, written and performed by Winsome Brown, is a riveting and emotional tribute to Brown’s mother. Under Brad Rouse’s direction, This is Mary Brown, takes the opportunity to honor the truth and authenticity of this delicate relationship – involving Brown and her siblings having to deal with their mother’s struggle with alcoholism, lung cancer and overall fighting to keep the family together.

Brown portrays a myriad of characters including her father, siblings, mother, and other family members seamlessly – giving the audience a taste of what the family dynamic was like. She recounts the joyful moments such as her parents meeting and falling in love as well as the sorrowful ones – the children discovering their mother’s drinking problem and then deciding how to share the responsibility when it came to an intervention. There is no doubt that this Irish family has personality – but the realness and strength emerges from the ashes.

Brown honestly and respectfully tells this story, and uses the dark periods and painful moments to heal. She balances out the tough times with flashes of light and uses her beautiful singing voice and guitar to express herself when words can no longer serve. Lighting design by Michael O’ Connor adds to the overall mood and adjusts to Brown’s scene changes as she dives into the story book of her family from childhood up until her mother’s final days in the hospital. The lighting emphasizes the simple setting she grew up in and the contrasting “brightness” and “dimming” mirrors the emotions to a tee.

While the audience is privileged to take this journey with Brown, it is a blessing to see her character develop and triumph through it all. Being able to share such a personal story is admirable and being able to witness her fulfillment at the end is a gift.

This is Mary Brown (through June 28, 2015)

La MaMa Earth

La MaMa’s First Floor Theatre, 74A East Fourth Street, between Second Avenue and the Bowery, in Manhattan

For tickets, call 646 430 5374 or visit http://www.lamama.org

Running time: 75 minutes without an intermission