Mother & Son @ Hunters Hill Theatre

Verdict: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (reviewed opening night Friday 22 November)

Mother & Son is based on Geoffrey Atherden’s ABC classic starring Garry McDonald and Ruth Cracknell in the roles of Arthur Beare and his elderly mother, Maggie. As fans will know, this show has been a long running classic due to its charming – and often – acerbic revelations about caring for an ageing parent with dementia.

The production at Hunter’s Hill Club Ryde is the second iteration of Mother & Son staged this year (the other being at Arts Theatre Cronulla), giving testimony to the enduring popularity of the play’s key themes: dementia, loss of independence, unscrupulous hackers preying on elderly victims, and equally unscrupulous, selfish and thoughtless adult children.

In this production, the iconic role of Maggie Beare is owned by Christine Rule, giving Maggie a fighting spirit that will not be squashed no matter what. Maggie’s mischievous sense of humour (‘I’ve been a naughty girl / will you spank me?’) oscillates with the indignity of being banned from hobbies she’s passionate about, like going to the library to read for children. Her wits about her are (mostly) there, but her loneliness, vulnerability and staggering selective memory clouds her judgement which wreaks havoc for the household she shares with her adult son, Arthur.

Brenton Amies as Arthur manages to make his character as bland as a potato, which is kind of the point going by the ABC TV series. Arthur is divorced and has resigned himself to be a forever momma’s boy, though in this play he has – at last – found a suitable girlfriend. Trying to arrange a holiday with her, though, is proving to be a logistical nightmare, as he cannot find anyone to take care of his restive mother while he away.

Arthur’s older brother, Robert, is a sleazy, cheating bastard played by brotherly look-a-like Nicholas Richard. The arrogance emanating from Robert’s wealthy dentist exterior is palpable and repugnant, matched only by his equally bratty, snobby kids (Jarrod and Bronte, played by Wes Egan and Niamh Farrell) and his insufferable wife, Liz (played by newcomer Harsha D’Souza), who manages to be both incredibly tacky and tactless. A vile lot that even Maggie can’t stand, except for her charming son Robert who almost manages to swindle her home ownership from right under her nose.

Tida Dhanommitrapap brings a bright and sunny disposition with her character of Anita (Arthur’s girlfriend), and is the only one who connects authentically with Maggie, even pretending to be a small child during Maggie’s fantasy role play where she finally gets to read to the children at the library. Maggie’s own children may be despicable and squabbling over their sibling rivalry, but she still knows where she lives, what year it is, and what she wants from life.

For a play that relies heavily on comedic timing, there were a few moments where it could have been improved. At one point the “DO NOT ANSWER” sign falls off the mantlepiece after Maggie slams the door. We would have loved to see an improv, sarcastic comeback (“bloody Mum!!). The line about why Liz supports abortion doesn’t quite land for laughs (it didn’t land either in the Arts Cronulla production – perhaps not delivered with enough unmitigated force). The ladder on stage at the beginning of Act 1 gives away the action before it happens – would have loved to see poor old Maggie dragging it on stage. These are just suggestions from an audience member’s viewpoint – there are other comedy moments done well, such as Arthur’s accented retelling of a dolphin memory he’s heard a thousand times before. The meta-references to the Mother & Son show (“ooof, I don’t like her, awful woman!”) was quite funny too. The scene between Maggie and her new friend Monica (played by Joan Rodd) was short but very captivating for its nostalgia of a by-gone era (“ladies must never have their bra strap or tags showing”).

Director Jasper Kyle draws on from his own experience of working with dementia patients, creating a sense of resilience, dignity and purpose. The program includes a QR code to support Dementia Australia (link below), and the performance on 1 December will be complemented by a special presentation by Dementia Australia.

Mother & Son is playing at Hunters Hill Theatre, Club Ryde til 8 December. For tickets and showtimes, go to https://www.huntershilltheatre.com.au/

To take part in fundraising support for Dementia Australia, go to this link.

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Credits:

CAST

CHRISTINE RULE  Maggie
BRENTONAMIESArthur
NICHOLAS RICHARD    Robert
HARSHAD’SOUZALiz
TIDADHANOMMITRAPAPAnita
JOANRODDMonica
ROSSALEXANDERSteve
WESEGANJarrod
NIAMH FARRELL Bronte

PRODUCTION

JASPER KYLE Director
NAT THOMAS & RENEE SIMON Assistant Directors
MAGGIE SCOTT Production Manager
JOAN RODD Stage Manager 
WAYNE CHEE Set & Lighting Design
KRIS EGAN Photography