‘Oh Mother F#@%*!’ Brings Laughs and Feels to the Fringe
Andrea Superstein, like many women before her, was told that becoming a mother would be the single best experience of her life. But when it felt hard, and when it didn’t feel magical all the time, she started to wonder if anyone else felt the same way. So, she went looking for answers. She interviewed other mothers, wrote songs, and turned those songs into an album. Now, that album has become Oh Mother F#@%*!, a stage show currently playing at the TK Fringe Festival.
Oh Mother F#@%*! is not just one thing. It is part comedy set, part music show, part personal essay with a soundtrack. At one point, Superstein sings with warm flowery animations behind her. At another, the lights are dim, and the audience watches interview clips from her conversations with other mothers. The show shifts between the formats and that flexibility seems to be part of its message. Motherhood, like this show, is never just one thing.
Superstein is funny. She takes on lighthearted topics like scheduling life with toddlers, snack politics, sleep deprivation, but also dives into deeper subjects: loneliness, identity shifts, and the desire for community. And she doesn’t shy away from the messy stuff. She shares the hilarious, the emotional, and the straight-up bizarre parts of parenting that people don’t always talk about. Her comedy is sharp. Her delivery is confident and well-paced. But her humour is at its best in the moments that feel less rehearsed, like when she’s riffing with the audience, or reacting in real time. I’d hope for more of those moments.
The music, though, was a personal highlight. The songs from Oh Mother F#@%*! are jazzy and emotionally rich. Superstein’s voice is soulful and expressive, and you can feel her connection to the material in every note. There’s something deeply comforting about watching someone turn a personal, complicated experience into art, and then offer it back to the world. It felt like an honest conversation with a friend who’s been through it. Someone older, a bit wiser, who knows how to laugh at what once felt impossible. When she sings lyrics like “this life belongs to you” and “who am I now”, they land quietly and contemplatively.
I’m not a parent, for the record. But I am a fan of performance and good storytelling, and I enjoyed this show. Judging from the mhmms and whispered “yes”es from other audience members, I wasn’t alone. The show touches on the many roles of a parent—cook, chauffeur, accountant, therapist, snack dealer—and anyone who has ever juggled too many hats at once will find something to relate to.
I also appreciate how the show flows seamlessly. One minute, Superstein is walking around the stage, the next she is walking through the audience, or sharing a video, or launching into another song. It feels cohesive, even in its variety.
It’s a Fringe show, which sometimes means it’s quirky, personal, maybe a bit rough around the edges, but that’s exactly what makes it feel special. If you’re a parent, a caregiver, or just someone who appreciates smart, vulnerable storytelling with a great soundtrack, Oh Mother F#@%*! is a good one to catch.
‘Oh Mother F#@%!’ is now showing at the Davies Lounge in the TK Fringe Festival as part of The Kick & Push Festival. More information can be found here.
