one4review | On 12, Aug 2026

There’s a contradiction at the heart of The Longer My Mother is Dead The More I Like Her, written and performed by Deborah Unger. Through a series of recollections, Unger explores her complicated relationship with her mother, taking us from clashes in early childhood, through the inevitable battles of the teenage years and into their fraught relationship as two adults.

Alongside this, she also reflects on a very different parental bond: a close, loving and indulgent relationship with her father. His generosity and willingness to spoil her often stood in stark contrast to the stricter, sparky dynamic she had with her mother, and it is clear that these indulgences frequently became a source of friction between mother and daughter.

At first, mother and daughter appear to be like oil and vinegar – fundamentally incompatible. Yet as Unger’s story unfolds, the picture becomes less black and white and we begin to wonder whether her mother was quite the monster that the younger Deborah perceived her to be.

If anything, I would have liked more examples of the clashes between them. From the stories we hear, her mother really didn’t sound quite terrible enough to justify the strength of feeling suggested by the title or the years of psychotherapy she has undergone.

Unger, however, is an accomplished and engaging performer, dealing with the occasional slight hiccup with impressive aplomb. The venue presented its own challenge, with a loud and extremely blowy fan occasionally making her difficult to hear. A word of advice: avoid the right-hand side of the stage!

An interesting and thoughtful exploration of how our perceptions of our parents can change with time.

***
Reviewed by Rona

Greenside George St – Olive Theatre

12.30 (1 hour)

Until 29th August (not 16th or 23rd)