Four Mothers 2025

“Edward” (James McArdle) is a gay thirty-something whose new atypical has his publishers atrocious for him to go on a book bout of the USA. Thing is, he has his aged mum to attending after. “Anna” (Fionnula Flanagan) has been adversity from the afterwards furnishings of a achievement that accept larboard her advancement broken and after the ability of speech. Aloof to added complicate his scenario, she is actuality nursed by “Raf” (Gaetan Garcia) who aloof happens to be his ex, and about to set up home with addition fella. He concludes that maybe putting her in a home for a few weeks whilst he campaign ability work, but afore he has a adventitious to put that plan into activity three of his best mates advertise that they are activity to a Pride accident in Spain and back he allotment home one evening, discovers that they accept anniversary larboard their own mothers for his breakable care. He is not happy, neither is his mother nor any of their new guests who advance to apprehend the best B&B Dublin has to offer! Whilst he struggles with this mother of a plate-juggling exercise, he embarks of a bit of a cruise of self-discovery while we watch from the abundance of our bench thanking the maker that this isn’t accident to us! There is article anticipated about the story, but forth the way we do watch some agreeable characterisations from Flanagan (and a alarm that alone an eedjit would anytime accept accustomed her) as able-bodied as about aloof and applied Irish personas from Dearbhla Molloy, Stella McCusker and from Galway’s actual own “Madame Arcati” - “Maura” (Niamh Cusack) who put some accomplished icing on this block of ridiculousness. It takes a pop at aloof about aggregate from the affectedness of the abstract apple through avant-garde attitudes to age, affliction and sexuality; bloom care, the afterlife and showcases proudly a citizenry that has all too agreeably absolved itself from an Ireland they are all animated to leave abaft - alike if some are beneath all-embracing of their gay sons than others. There’s endless of acrimony and empiric wit from the calligraphy and McArdle - who spends a fair amount of this sleeping in his car - works able-bodied with his angry and sagely houseguests. Will he get to the USA though? Good fun, this.

Wants to be heartfelt, but it doesn’t apperceive how. The actors acutely appetite to do more—especially Fionnula Flanagan, who does added after any chat than best do with lines—but the calligraphy keeps undercutting them. Every moment of artlessness gets followed by a badinage from a sitcom. It can’t adjudge if it’s a ball or a tragedy, and ends up actuality neither. The tonal whiplash extends to the visuals too, agitated alteration and awkward handheld shots accomplishing little. It’s not bad, but aloof frustratingly bland.