The Mother by Bertolt Brecht
The Mother
Unsentimentally removed from between the dust covers in a lively translation by Steve Gooch
Michael Coveney, Financial Times
Originally produced at The Half Moon Theatre and subsequently The Roundhouse, and published by Methuen with songs translated by the author. Revived shortly afterwards by Belt & Braces and later revived by The Royal National Theatre. Brecht’s adaptation of Gorki’s tale of a mother drawn into the Russian Revolution by the fate of her son. In 2014 awarded a Jeff (Joseph Jefferson Award), Chicago’s answer to New York’s Tonys.
Photos
Script Excerpt
5. Report on the 1st May, 1905
(Street)
Pavel: As we, the workers from the Suchlinov plant, crossed over the Wool Market, we met the column from the other factories. There were already many thousands of us. We carried banners saying ‘Workers, support our fight against the wage cut! Workers, unite!’
Ivan: We marched in a quiet and orderly fashion. Songs like ‘Arise, ye prisoners of starvation’ and ‘Comrades, the bugles are sounding’ were sung. Our factory marched immediately behind the great red flag.
Andrei: Beside me, close behind her son, marched Pelagea Vlasova. When we’d gone round early that morning to pick him up. she suddenly came out of the kitchen, dressed to go out. And when we asked where she was going, she answered: Vlasova. With you.
Anton: Many like her went with us. The harsh winter, the wage cuts in the factories and our agitation had led many to us. Before we arrived at the Boulevard of our Saviour we saw only a few policemen and no soldiers, but on the corner of the Boulevard of Our Saviour and the Tverskaya there suddenly stood a double chain of soldiers. When they saw our flag and our banners, a voice suddenly called out ‘Attention! Disperse immediately! We have orders to shoot!’ And ‘Drop your flag.’ Our column came to a halt.
Pavel: But because the ones marching at the back were still moving forward, the ones at the front couldn’t stop, and so they opened fire. As the first people turned, what followed was nothing but confusion. Many couldn’t believe that what they saw had actually happened. Then the soldiers started to move towards the crowd.
The Mother
The clearest, fastest, funniest, warmest and most vigorous performance of Brecht in English that I have ever seen
Jane King, The Morning Star