Mother & Son

Remember those hilarious encounters between the absentminded and slightly naughty mother, Maggie Beare (Ruth Cracknell), her forever downtrodden but devoted son, Arthur (Garry McDonald), and shifty dentist brother, Robert (Henri Szeps)? Geoffrey Atherden’s TV series, Mother And Son, delighted viewers for several years starting in 1984 and now you can relive the experience with the Queensland Theatre Company’s theatrical version, running 13 Feb-15 March at the Playhouse, QPAC.

This time, the ever reliable Noeline Brown is taking on the role of Maggie, with Darren Gilshenan playing Arthur. The script is also penned by original creator, Atherden, so it’s in safe hands and guaranteed to hit the funny bone as well as create a few poignant moments as Arthur tries his hardest to look after Mum, who can never seem to remember the important points but is amazingly cunning when she needs to be.

The plot has Arthur trying to get away for a few weeks’ holiday and needing his selfish brother Robert’s help to look after Mum so he can have the time off. But Robert’s carrying on with his dental hygienist and after being caught out by his wife turns up on Arthur’s doorstep. Meanwhile, mum Maggie is thwarting Arthur’s chances at romance once again.

Roger Hodgman is the director, and other cast members include Rob Carlton, Nicki Wendt, Rachael Beck, Robyn Arthur and Sharon Davis, with producer Spencer McLaren saying, “The pedigree of Mother & Son has been a magnet to the calibre of talent assembled for the Brisbane season of this premiere production – a cast of Australia’s finest comic artists… When we first discussed the idea of bringing Mother & Son to the stage Geoffrey Atherden was immediately keen and almost instantly delivered the first draft of the play… His skill as a writer handling characters he knows so well meant he was able to re-visit their world with such ease and produce something entirely fresh yet comfortingly familiar.”   

By Vicki Englund

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