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HILLSBOROUGH: A comedic look at motherhood

By Audrey Levine Staff Writer
   HILLSBOROUGH — They walked onstage, cradling baby dolls in blankets and singing “You Are My Sunshine,” as they looked lovingly at the bundles in their arms. But when they reached the stage, the sounds of a baby crying filled the room, and one mother pulled out an empty alcohol bottle, pretending to drink as much as she could.
   ”Now the baby’s here, and I’m completely freaking out,” the three mothers sang to the tune of “Help,” by the Beatles.
   These three New York mothers brought their comedy show, “Mom’s the Word,” to Temple Beth El, on Route 206, and performed songs about the trials of motherhood before an audience of more than 70 mothers and fathers Nov. 13.
   ”We decided this show would be absolutely perfect for the synagogue,” said Simona Rivkin, cultural arts chair for Temple Beth El. “We wanted to get those who have children, particularly moms, out of their homes and give them a wonderful evening.”
   Ms. Rivkin said about 70 people purchased tickets for the event in advance, but several more bought tickets at the door.
   ”People mostly found out about the show by word of mouth,” she said. “But if people come to the events and enjoy them, that makes me want to continue with them.”
   The show was created in 2007 – after seven years performing another version called “Momsense” – and features topics about parenting, including sibling rivalry, the gross behaviors of sons, puberty, driving the kids to after-school activities and birthday parties, among other topics.
   The performers – Dana Covey, Erika Radin and Amy Mandelbaum – take already popular songs and change the lyrics to fit the parenting topics and relate to events in their lives with their young children.
   At the Temple Beth El performance, Ms. Covey, Ms. Radin and understudy Ellen Cohen, of Connecticut, sang a variety of pieces about throwing tantrums, staying at grandma’s house, making excuses at bedtimes and appearing old to their children.
   ”In my children’s eyes, I am ancient,” they sang to the tune of “In My Daughter’s Eyes” by Martina McBride. For many guests, the show was an opportunity to listen to funny stories about caring for children.
   ”I had heard they were very funny,” said Mia Sena, of Bridgewater. “I can relate to the material because being a mom is funny. I have a preteen, so those years are full of emotional drama.”
   For the members of “Mom’s the Word,” this emotional drama was aptly described in “Drama Queen,” a version of “Dancing Queen” by ABBA.
   ”See that girl, make a scene, she is the drama queen,” the women sang while wearing glittering bandanas and holding hairbrushes to their mouths as microphones.
   For many of the women at the performance, who are now caring for their grandchildren, listening to the songs allowed them the opportunity to remember what it was like when their own children were young. To relate to these women, the performance included a song in which a mother realizes she has become her own mother.
   ”But the things that come out of my mouth I swear I’d never say,” the performers sang in a song titled “Like My Mother” to the tune of Madonna’s “Like a Virgin.”
   For Carol Levine, of Martinsville, the performance brought back memories from before her child began college.
   ”I smiled for an hour solid,” she said. “I’m a mother of a freshman in college, and I think about my child growing up. The show was great, very heartwarming.”
   Several guests said it is nice to know that those with young children now are going through the same troubles they encountered when they became first-time mothers.
   ”I am at the point now where I can laugh about it,” said Carol Paxson, of Martinsville, during a reception before the performance. “I like seeing my kids go through what they put me through. It’s the mother’s curse, and it’s fun to watch your kids dealing with it.”
   Ms. Covey said this is part of what makes the show a success.
   ”People are laughing about seeing what their kids are going through (as parents),” she said.
   For Ms. Rivkin, the show was something everyone could relate to, whether they are mothers, grandmothers or even fathers.
   ”I laughed nonstop through every single moment,” she said. “It was something I could relate to. I thought it was only me who dealt with some of these things.”
   As the performance came to a close, the three performers told the crowd that, despite the troubles they encounter with their children, they are proud to be mothers.
   They closed with the theme song from “Grease” as they sang that, “Mom is the word,” preceded by “Seasons of Love,” from “Rent” when they sang about measuring a mother’s love.
   ”525,000 Band-Aids on boo boos,” they sang before receiving a standing ovation from the audience. “It’s a tough job, but it’s the one we choose.”