A Note from the Director of Unpacking Mother

Kathy Pingel, Director

When mental illness appears in small increments by the time it’s diagnosed, it’s almost too late. From the outside, a hoarder’s home looks like any other. It’s only when you cross the threshold that it becomes apparent things have been wrong for a long time. The residents, however, have gotten used to the piles, the paths, and the narrowexistence they must live as the walls have literally closed in around them. As Cassie and Kathryn prepare to leave the family home, they must deal with the mountain of mess in front of them but, in doing so, also uncover long held and closely guarded family secrets. It’s not as easy as unearthing the truth. They must come to understand how the other has experienced their mother’s compulsive behavior. When they turn their backs on the house, they strive to do so as sisters united, rather than divided, by their pain.

Unpacking Mother is an AACT NewPlayFest play which means it was chosen from over 300 entries—one of six performed in the 2021-2022 season in community theatres across America. This is a world premiere and will be published by Dramatic Publishing. Therefore, the actors,

production team, and designers will be listed in the front of the publication as the originators. Karen Schaeffer, the playwright, visited during the rehearsal process to offer her insights and listen to suggestions from the actors who have lived with the roles over the past several weeks. The goal was to polish the dialogue and stage directions so other theatres can follow a clear map.

Thanks to Michael Cochran, producer and lightning designer; Mark Toebben, composer; Tom Hansen, set designer; Jerome Veit, technical director; Davin Belt, costume designer; Denise Bristol, assistant director/ stage manager; and the dramaturgy team: Brian Johnson and Dr. Caitlin Powell for valued contributions. However, much of the credit for the polish of the production goes to actors Amber Taylor and Anna Tamaoka, who met via Zoom for tablework prior to rehearsals, strove to completely memorize lines by our first run-through to create an unbreakable stage partnership, and even emptied their own cupboards and closets to enhance the look of the set. Their attention to detail, suggestions for line rewrites, and dedication to the process was exemplary.