Reviewed by Alex Dunkin
The 1980s Australian television classic Mother & Son comes to the Adelaide stage as part of The Adelaide Repertory Theatre’s 2024 program.
The play is written by the creator of the original show, Geoffrey Atherden, and in this modernised version is directed by Jude Hines.
Mother & Son is set in the home of aging mother Maggie (Penni Hamilton-Smith) and her son Arthur (Patrick Clements), who has moved in to take care of her. Maggie’s memory issues and increasing dependence test Arthur and his desire to have his own life with new ‘friend’ Anita (Mollie Mooney).
Unassisted by the favourite son Robert (Stephen Bills), Robert’s wife Liz (Nikki Gaertner-Eaton) and kids (Alifa Willoughby and Henry Bacon), Arthur balances the shenanigans of his mother, tail chasing brother, and perpetually occupied Liz. Despite Robert’s bad life choices, Maggie still displays comically excessive admiration for her dentist son in a bluntly amusing contrast to the son who tells her what to do.
Arthur’s plans for a three-week trip away follow many requests for help and pleas for sharing his brother to help in the care role. Arthur makes the call and uses his brother’s own dramas for the holiday getaway everyone had been warned about.
There are quick scenes featuring Steph (Jessica Corrie) as the Aged Care Assessor and Monica (Sandy Whitelaw) as an aged care respite resident who provide the outside perspective to the escalating frustration and generational humour occurring within the Beare family.
The modern take incorporates video calls and mobile phones that further establish the age gaps in the characters. The projector screen features zoom calls with the grandchildren that had playful cuts between child fights and gave a glimpse into Liz and Robert’s household.
The Adelaide Rep’s take on Mother & Son excellently presents the humanising, often unlikeable, nature of the characters while maintaining the constant underscoring of humour. The vocalisations of the characters were particularly strong in the emphasis of both the dramatic and humorous.
The staging is reminiscent of the original show’s time with strong family home undertones. The styling of the show and script lends itself well to a stage production and creates a sense of familiarity while updating minor aspects to keep the work contemporary.
Mother & Son is a strong showing by the Adelaide Rep and an entertaining production for anyone who enjoyed the original television show.
