Pulitzer prize-winning 'night, Mother opens at Duke Theatre in South Lake Tahoe

A new South Lake Tahoe theater company has hit the road running with their production of 'night, Mother, a Pulitzer prize-winning play about the relationship between a mother and daughter. Friday, August 24 is opening night and the play will run at the Lake Tahoe Community College's Duke Theatre for two weekends.

Jessie, the daughter, has moved back home after a divorce and is depressed and is done with life and wants to end hers. Her relationship with mother Thelma is explored during the 90-minute play that is full of drama, dark comedy and emotion.

Pam Taylor, a long-time local performer, is taking the stage as Thelma "Mama" Cates, a widow who is starting to feel her age and has easily allowed her depressed daughter to come and take care of all the details of her life. She has no need for intimacy in relationships but is energized by social situations.

Briana Biller, also a long-time performer on local stages, is Jessie Cates, a divorced woman who lives with her widowed mother. She is an epileptic who has experienced seizures most of her life. Nothing in life has worked out for this woman, including raising a son who turned out to be a disappointing loser. She has suffered with severe chronic depression that has never been treated.

The complete play is comprised of these two talented women under the direction of Broadway and San Francisco stage veteran, producer Rich Sargent.

"It's not a play about suicide," explained Sargent. "It shows suicide before the act where others are after the act." He said 'night, Mother is about feeling and dealing with emotions.

"Everyone will get something out of this," said Biller. "Come to the theater to get healed, this play does that."

Every aspect of the play reminds Taylor of some aspect of her own life as well as interactions with family and friends.

"Makes you think deeper," explained Taylor. "It's unlike anything else you've ever seen. It's important to see."

To see 'night, Mother at the Duke Theater, purchase tickets online for $20, or at the door for $25. There will be performances August 24, 25, 26, 30, 31 and September 1. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. For tickets, visit https://nightmother.brownpapertickets.com.

"People will be talking about this for months," said Sargent.

The Black Ice Theatre Co. is a non-profit formed in South Lake Tahoe by theater professionals interested in engaging audiences through "fresh and daring" plays that are more of a mirror held up to society and not all light and airy performances. They will bring a different kind of theater more reflective of today's issues, according to Sargent.

The company is focusing on four productions a year, but not all will be at the Duke Theater. October's production will be in a new venue in Placerville. some will be in Valhalla and other area spots.

For more on Black Ice Theatre Co. and upcoming auditions and performances, visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BlackIceTahoe/.