Despite her mother still being alive, to Candice Fox she is effectively dead. This one-woman autobiographical play unpacks the intricate, storied, and turbulent relationship between one estranged daughter and her alcoholic mother. Part-hilarious, part-harrowing, but wholly real, ‘Cheers Mom!’ promises a fresh perspective on our understanding of grief and familial relationships.

During her hour on stage, Fox gives a whistle-stop tour of the key moments in their failed relationship, from nursing her drunken mother in the bathtub as a little girl to the last email correspondence they have shared. Describing her passage through each stage of grief – denial, bargaining, anger, depression, acceptance – Fox expertly shows the audience how addiction flips relationships on their head, and calls into question our understanding of the supposedly unbreakable mother-daughter bond.

What is most impressive about this play is that its rapid pace and constantly shifting tone never compromise a sense of coherency or control. Fox cycles through emotions at breakneck speed but doesn’t lose her grip on either the narrative or the audience. Gorgeous poetic verses filled with heart-wrenching realisations are broken up by hilarious stand-up-style monologues, highlighting the varied and quirky ways we cope with our grief. Her comedic style is chummy, sharp, and drenched in irony, and is sure to appeal to any generation of audience member.

A clever use of a projector screen and voice-overs provide an interesting variety of media, although a few transitions could benefit from some fine-tuning. The brief dance section, whilst beautifully choreographed, feels a touch out of place but does not detract from the overall impression of the play as a well-assembled work. Hysterically messy, wonderfully candid, and deeply thought-provoking, ‘Cheers Mom!’ is a shimmering testimony to the talent of Candice Fix as a writer and performer.

‘Cheers, Mom! Eulogy for a Living Parent‘ is at C ARTS | C aquila until Sun 17 Aug 2025 at 13:30