André's Mother

The genre of this play is Tragicomedy. This is apparent because this short play is filled with comedy despite it taking place at André's grave. The comedy is presented when Penny cracks a few jokes to lighten up the mood. She jokes, "Does the Pope know about this?", referring to them releasing balloons in André's memory. The tragedy is present because obviously André is dead, his loved ones are commemorating his death and his mother is unable to speak of him just yet.



The significant spectacle in this play is the white balloons. Their significance explained in the play by Cal. He says, " They represent the soul. When you let go, it means you're letting his soul ascend into heaven. That you're willing to let go. Breaking the last earthly ties". I know this to be true because they use the color white to represent the soul and let them go signifying them becoming at peace with his death.

André's mother not speaking is tricky to interpret only because people grieve in different ways. I believe her not speaking strengthens the play, primarily in the end when she says goodbye to André is her own way, and sets a whole deeper tone to the play. This affects the plot, meaning and theme of the play because this play shows the different aspects of grief and explores the grief of a mother. By choosing to not speak she lets the audience know that when it is her turn to let her balloon go it will be her moment alone. No one can know the grief a mother goes through but in that moment where she struggles for words then kisses the balloon and lets it go she is showing that her manner of grief is not words but actions. In kissing that balloon she is showing André that she loves him no matter what became of his lifestyle.