For the first time a Mother and Daughter play Mother and Daughter in the London revival of Night, Mother by Marsha Norman

Can suicide ever be a rational choice? In January of this year Sir Terry Pratchett (recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease) spoke eloquently on this subject. His BBC Dimbleby Lecture “Shaking Hands with Death” set out his rationale for choosing to die at a time and in a place of his own volition. “My life, my death, my choice”.

Marsha Norman's Pulitzer Prize winning play confronts this, the issue of ultimate self-determination. From the beginning we are told of Jessie's intention to kill herself and so begin her mother's desperate attempts to stop her.

But to what extent should we respect the desire of a fellow human being to end his or her life earlier than is necessary? What happens when we confront someone who does decide they want to step off the edge of life?

In the case of someone who kills themselves on the basis of calm judgement, our reaction is likely to be one of cold terror. What they force us to consider is the fact that life is not just a fact of life, that we can weigh its value and determine that it has all been spent. (Baggini 2010)

Julian Baggini's topical philosophical debate plays out in all its confusion, love and agony through Jessie and Thelma's struggle. A mother's instinctual fight to preserve her daughter's life set against Jessie's matter-of-fact determination to end it.

Night Mother in the United States... “Something I hadn't seen in a long time happened at 'Night, Mother”. The audience still sat applauding after the house lights came up, as if waiting for the cast to come round and join them”. The Village Voice “...A shattering evening...” The New York Times

Greenwich Playhouse

25th May - 20th June 2010

Press Night - 27th May

Tickets £12.00/£10.00(concs)

Greenwich Playhouse, Greenwich Station Forecourt, 189 Greenwich High Road, London, SE10 8JA

www.galleontheatre.co.uk