George's Blog about "Saving Mom"

AFFIRMATION
First off, nice work to both of you in the designing of your two classes. You have done a great job identifying aspects of the play you want to explore and then figuring out how best to open them up. Also, you've done a great job really using us as a resource, not just as spectators.

Soo-Jin, one of your qualities I admire the most is your openness to trying new ideas. The new scenes you brought in were a great example of this - you don't keep stubbornly hammering away at an idea, or "freeze" the play in your mind - you are able to treat it as a changeable creation - very admirable and brave.

A general note: I would agree with Michael that the moments when the language sounds specific to a culture - i.e., "flavorless girl" (my favorite) are fantastic.

I think the Labs have been succesful in giving you a lot of information that you can process and use while creating the play.

I agree with Jenny that the new scenes definitely made me feel more sympathetic to the relationship between Mom and the Reverend.

QUESTIONS
What does Dad want? Is part of him happy that Mom is otherwise occupied?
Is the Mom/Rev relationship strictly platonic?
Is the Reverend actually running a sweatshop?
Why does Harriet want her mother around?
Why does Reverend molest Harriet if he loves Mom?
Why would Harriet help the Reverend in the hospital?
Why does Rev want to be a Rev?
Has Mom always hated her family?

OPINIONS
Some thoughts...

As I stated above, I love the culture-specific dialogue and would gladly take as much as you wanted to work in.

The Molestation scene: for me, this scene doesn't quite fit with the rest of the play as it stands now. The Reverend in that scene seems a different person than in the rest of play. In the molestation scene, he is so sure of himself and manipulative and aware of his power . Also, he seems like a "real" Rev in this scene with a big congregation, not like the "fraud" that Mom claims he is. I also wonder what triggers this scene - the Rev speaks so harshly of Mom in the scene, says she ruins everything she touches - where is this coming from? It isn't the slavish devotion he shows Mom in the other scenes. And Harriet hates him so much - why would she help him in the hospital, much less let him in the door? Part of me also wonders if the scene offers us too easy an "out" to side with the family against the Reverend. It seems to make the audience's job too easy. Personally, I feel like the play could exist (and might be allowed to fully explore the "grey" area of the relationship) without it.

I'd love to know more about the Dad and what makes him tick - how he sees the relationship with Mom/Rev and what he believes in/stands for on his own - how does the family exist when Mom is not around?

I don't know what the Rev is getting from the relationship - it seems like you enter an affair to get something you're not getting at home - excitement, sex - but all he gets from Mom is abuse.

Again, congrats on your boldness and willingness to play with your material!

- George