Image by Lachlan Moore.
Australian televisions favourite dysfunctional mother/ son duo have been reborn again, in the new stage adaption of the much loved 1980s sitcom Mother & Son. As the tumultuous relationship between mother Maggie Beare and son Arthur returns, long-time fans of the series will be lured back to the beloved Australian family comedy.
Directed by Roger Hodgman, the play follows almost the exact same format and setting as the series, set inside the Beare family home. Shoes previously filled by Ruth Cracknell and Garry McDonald as Maggie and Arthur are inhabited by veteran comedic actress Noeline Brown and Aussie theatre staple Darren Gilshenan. The often warring pair are supported by Shane Jacobson as arrogant brother Robert, Nicky Wendt as his high maintenance wife Liz and Kellie Rode as Arthur’s kind-hearted partner Anita.
The play’s storyline, written by Geoffrey Atherdeen who penned the original television show, appears to be somewhat pieced together from snippets and plot points of old episodes, as the production stays safe with mirrored slap-stick humor and predictable wit which is well received by a more mature audience.
Acting is impeccable, as one would expect from the accumulated level of experience and wide range of thespian accomplishments. Gilshenan and Jacobson are engaging and natural casting choices, playing contrasting sons, Gilshenan as the weakly do-gooder and Jacobson as the smarmy and selfish favoured son.
The female cast excelled, with veteran actress Brown transforming the role of Maggie into her own, adding touches of vulnerability and naivety to an already well-love (and sometimes hated) character. As the nasty materialistic wife Wendt is sassy yet subtle and her scenes become a welcome departure from the often frustrating dynamics of the Beare family.
Rode as Anita is bubbly and full-of-life but her character seems underdeveloped. At times, Rode comes across as overly animated and could have employed more subtlety in dialogue, a possible consequence of most of her acting foundations being based in musical theatre.
Lighting by Nigel Levings and set design by Shaun Gurton is sleek, kitsch and understated, keeping with the themes and frameworks of the play. Attempts at modernizing the story with a call centre voice-over is a clever inclusion but the additional Skype conversations and the occasional ‘selfie’ or ‘trending’ reference feel contrived and further reinforce anachronistic aspects of the show.
With only the most minor alterations between the television and stage show, one does wonder about the purpose of breaking the series outside of viewer’s television screens without bringing anything new to the table. Still, an enjoyable albeit predictable family comedy. While Mother & Son may not make too many new fans, it is sure to keep the old.
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Mother & Son
Writer: Geoffrey Atherden
Director: Roger Hodgman
Producer: Spencer McLaren
Producer: Dean Murphy
Producer: Joseph Thomsen
Lighting Design: Nigel Levings
Set Design: Shaun Gurton
Cast: Noeline Brown, Darren Gilshenan, Shane Jacobson, Nicki Wendt, Kellie Rode, Robyn Arthur, Dylan Redman & Jade Redman
Comedy Theatre, Exhibition St
www.motherandsononstage.com.au
24 June- 24 August
