60 Seconds With… Gerald of ‘How I Murdered My Mother’

Briefly introduce yourself/your company…
Tomo Suru is a terrible Japanese use of the word “friend” and the verb “to do” and if you don’t speak Japanese, it means, “Let’s be friends”. If you do speak Japanese it means, “Someone really doesn’t understand Japanese well.” Tomo Suru was founded by Shigeru Matsubara, who does speak Japanese, to encourage his husband to go out and make friends. Shigeru moved to Canada from Osaka with his husband, Gerald, 9 years ago to be with his in-laws for the final years of their lives.

What is it that makes your work/company unique
Collaboration with others has always been the focus. Being open to others means disagreeing with them, agreeing with them, and just letting others being others. Other than that trying to tell good stories well.

What kind of experience do you hope audiences will have during your show?
Laugh. That’s first. Serious topics are often better when we can laugh about them. The issues raised are ones we will all face. Listening to this show we hope audiences will reflect on the “what” and “how” of what is inevitable.

Without spoilers, tell us what you think audiences will remember most about your show?
How funny I am when I cry

What do you think is the best thing about the Fringe?
Audiences taking risk on shows that they might never see. One of the most memorable shows I’ve seen was a retired teacher doing a poetry/spoken-word performance relating her facade of normal married life while engaging in prostitution and severe alcoholism. It was shocking and brave and utterly captivating. Was it “good”? I don’t know, but there are lots of good shows I’ve seen that I don’t recall.

What is the most important thing you hope audiences will take away from your show?
Discussion with parents, with children about decisions that need to be made about death. And, importantly, that these discussions don’t need to be macabre or sad. It’s only sad if you don’t have these conversations.