REVIEW: MOTHS, MOTHERS AND DEAD PEOPLE @ THE ROSE AND CROWN

🎭 Moths, Mothers and Dead People

📍  The Rose and Crown, 71-73 Torriano Avenue, London, NW5 2SG                           

🗓 Monday 12th August 2024

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THE PERFECT BALANCE OF HUMOUR AND HEART

I began this week’s theatre trips by heading to The Rose & Crown in Kentish Town to see Ellie Drayton’s play MOTHS, MOTHERS AND DEAD PEOPLE. Drayton’s play is a one-woman show that explores the ongoing impact of grief, the various ways it is felt, and some of the more peculiar things it can make us do.

At the start, Drayton’s character tells us it’s the year 3,000, that moths have taken over the world, and that the police are looking for the source of the problem. We learn that her mother passed away when she was young and that she’s kept all of her clothes in bin bags — or "bin liner purgatory" as she describes it. They’re now attracting moths.

Throughout the play’s hour-long runtime, Drayton speaks to the audience, sharing the healing nature of the writing process and the difficulties of finding work as an actor. This blurs the lines between what is real and what is made up, and while this is sometimes confusing, it makes the more hard-hitting and honest scenes in which she shares her feelings all the more poignant.

The play ebbs and flows between serious, moving monologues and hilarity, striking the perfect balance between the two. It’s both memorable and affecting and entertaining. In one of my favourite scenes, Drayton’s character smashes a chocolate cake beyond recognition and then proceeds to shovel it into her mouth. This highlights how grief can make us feel like nothing in life is worth celebrating and how it can lead to extreme behaviour. A few similar scenes follow, all of which involve Drayton putting something into her mouth. These moments are shocking, entertaining and moving all at the same time.

Drayton captivates the audience throughout as she transitions from directly addressing us to acting out a podcast hosted by Mother Moth and Moth King. These skits had everyone laughing and demonstrate Drayton’s creativity in giving the moths a voice in her play. The questions asked on the podcast and the topics discussed moved the story along nicely as well.

The main drawback for me was the venue. All of the seats were on the same level as the stage, which made it quite difficult to see what was going on. I could only see Drayton when she was on the left-hand side of the stage, for example, meaning I missed out on much of the action. At some points, I had to piece together what was happening from the narrative. It’s a testament to Drayton that I still really enjoyed the performance despite not being able to see it clearly. I’d like to see it again — either in a different venue or with the stage raised slightly.

It’s a small detail, but I also personally didn’t understand the significance of it being the year 3,000 and feel that the play would have had the same, if not more, impact if it had been set in the present day.

All in all, I think MOTHS, MOTHERS AND DEAD PEOPLE  is a unique exploration of grief that skilfully blends humour and poignancy. The play weaves all the elements of the title together, explaining what each leaves behind. I’d recommend watching it — but at a venue that allows for a clearer view of the action.

Estelle Luck

All views are my own and I pride myself on being honest, fair and free from influence. Theatre is subjective and it is important to remember that all views expressed are just those of one reviewer. 

My ticket for this performance of Moths, Mothers and Dead People was gifted by writer Ellie Drayton and producer Flora Davies who invited me to watch the show on behalf of Pink Prince Theatre in exchange for my honest review. The fact that my ticket was gifted played no part in the content of my review or the star rating given. 

RUNNING TIME (approx):

1 hour, with no interval

CONTENT WARNINGS:

Strong language; Death; Parental death; Grief