Mala

by Melinda Lopez

An utterly unsentimental journey toward the end of life, Mala is an irreverent exploration of how we live, cope, and survive in the moment. Grounded in distinctive emotional language and sharp humor, this powerful one-woman show written and performed by Melinda Lopez (Sonia Flew) dances between a mother’s growing frailty and a daughter’s quest for grace—all set during an epic Boston winter. Rather than depict a right way, the play opens the door for conversation regarding our universal struggle to support those we love in dying, especially when all we’ve ever focused on is surviving.

Funny, brutally honest, and ultimately cathartic, Mala—which won the Elliot Norton Award for Best New Play in 2017—puts a sharp focus on what it means to put our loved ones first, right to the very end, and what happens when we strive to be good but don’t always succeed.

MALA was written with the support of the Mellon Foundation’s National Playwright Residency Program, administered in partnership with Howlround. MALA was originally produced by Arts Emerson. Special thanks to P Carl, David Dower, Peter DuBois and the Huntington Theatre Company.

©2019 AO Media LLC (P)2019 Audible Originals, LLC.

Genres: Audiobook, Nonfiction, Memoir, Plays

Unknown Binding

Reviews

[Tania · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. This is a short audible original exploring the decline and death of a parent. Luckily, I have never had to go through this myself, but I felt empathy for the author is this play. She did a good job with the narration as well. I think it was just a bit too dramatic for my taste.

[Valene Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really sweet and nice to listen to especially if you are a caregiver like myself. The author was very authentic.

[Travis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m sure writing this was wonderfully, personally cathartic for her, but personal catharsis doesn’t always translate to dramatic catharsis. Overall it was pretty shrug worthy. There were so many scenes that could have been emotional powerhouses, but any and all dramatic tension was drained out of them.

[Gianna · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to delete this book, but I also wanted it to count towards my reading challenge. If you feel like listening to someone's diary, this might be the book for you.

[Matt · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got this audiobook for free from Audible, and I didn't love it. There were some insightful moments, but it was mostly hard to follow.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t give 5 stars often because, you know, standards. (If every other book is 5 stars then how do we separate the masterworks or the books that live on in us?) However, if you take your love and grief, mold raw, honest, irreverently funny art with it, and invite me to share in your creation, I’ll give you all the stars because, you know, humanity. I don’t share this playwright’s culture or beliefs, and I was still moved by her art. This wasn’t the kind of piece that leaves me wanting to critique missed opportunities or over-dramatizations, just bare witness and hand out stars.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was poignant, very moving, deep, so worthy of a listen. I didn’t read more than a few reviews. Maybe it resonated so much more with me because my uncle (like a father, as mine passed long ago) is dying. Any day, weeks, months. Prognosis is soon. Late stage decline is starting & pausing. Changes every hour & day...good, bad, better...it’s so hard to breathe. I related to other aspects too. I will listen again in the next day or two.

[JariSW · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and relatable story. Melinda does an excellent job helping the reader understand the challenges of being her mother's daughter as she tries to be "good" while making the hard decisions that are necessary to care for her mother.

[Relyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been too long since I've read this to write a good review. I have a terrible memory and I really need to do a better job keeping up with my reviews. Still, I do remember really enjoying this Audible Original.

[Nancie Lafferty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very personal, emotional and evocative one-woman play about the aging and death of one’s parents. Aging, dying, trying to do the right thing, love, familial duty, weakness, strength — all this is touched upon in this emotional and moving presentation.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not much to say. This did not do much for me. I understood some elements of it due to my own experiences, but I listened to it because it is short (and it helped me reach my reading challenge this year).

[Bev(baglady) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Leah Angstman · Rating 2 out of 5]

A one-woman play about culture, family, and the unpleasant process of aging and dying and watching our loved ones die with (and without) dignity. Sometimes sad, sometimes funny.

[Marsha Lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book caught me completely by surprise and literally wrecked me. I went through so many emotions in the short time it took to listen to it in its entirety. It is well with the reading.

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short audio play, performed by the author, deals with the experiences and emotions of helping a parent through the end of their life. Lopez does not shrink away from unpleasant realities or difficult emotions, as she also finds ironic humor and grace in difficult family situations.

[Hale Yaman · Rating 2 out of 5]

It sounded interesting but didn't really deliver. It was neither sentimental nor funny but felt like trying to be both. Also, at times, there was no explanation to what Mom said in Spanish which was mildly annoying to me. It was ok for a short read/listen, 2 stars.

[JD · Rating 1 out of 5]

As an audiobook, the performance was terrible and the narrator's voice made it difficult to get through. There was very little flow to the story. Couldn't get through the weaknesses to finish it because it was frustratingly poorly written and narrated.

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This audio book left me shaking my head. I do not recommend.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps would have liked this more at a later point in my life

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obra recomendable. Versa sobre el envejecimiento de una madre y su relación con la hija que la cuida. Una ficción que bien puede suceder en muchos hogares y realidades.

[Anastasia · Rating 2 out of 5]

A story of coping with aging parents