How Now Mrs Brown Cow – Opera House, Manchester

Writer/Director: Brendan O’Carroll

Reviewer: John Roberts

The Public Reviews Rating:

Brendan O’Carroll himself has admitted that this production should have been called ‘I Know a bleedin’ Bandwagon when I see one’ Tour and that couldn’t be truer, after all this is the 5th instalment in the Mrs Brown Trilogy (Yes you did read that right!)

I have to admit to never seeing a Mrs Brown production before, but after experiencing it first hand it is clear to see why so many people would go to see them, and return with every new show. Granted you are not going to see anything that is cutting edge, highbrow but what you will get for you money is a hilarious family romp courtesy of Brendan O’Carroll’s razor sharp wit and spontaneity.

It is nearly Christmas and Agnes Brown, is awaiting the return of her son, who has emigrated to Canada to work with the homeless, It has been four years since she last saw him, and nothing had better get in the way of that or else! Well just as you would expect, Else does happen, in the form of hidden adoption worries and tension arises between the close knit family about which one it is. Wrap that with a Penguin, A flooded flat, a shaving machine gone wrong and endless improvisations and a part in the Local Parish Christmas Nativity and you get the idea of what takes place.

Brendan O’Carroll has created a comic masterpiece in Agnes – the lovable but rather foul mouthed 60-something widow, who creates just as much mayhem and madness as those around her. Brendan manages to convincingly portray Agnes with an effortless flair which never fails to bring tears to your eyes from laughter. Great support is given from all the cast, who try in vain not to corpse into hysterics when Brendan clearly goes off on an improvisation spree.

Rory Cowan & Gary Hollywood have excellent cameo roles as Agnes’ gay and rather flamboyant son Rory and Dino his partner. Jennifer Gibney as Cathy (the only daughter in the brown clan) gives a warm portrayal of the put upon daughter and Dermot O’Neil gives a great and rather under utilised performance of Granda. Credit must also be given to Emily Regan (understudy Betty) & the Male understudy (not named) playing the role of Buster. Regan takes to the stage and really owns the role, never knowing or giving hint that she was an understudy, unlike Regan the male understudy was only in his second ever performance, and credit must be given for a great comic turn.

How Now Mrs Brown Cow, is full of adult humour and therefore not suitable for the under 16′s and is most not for the easily offended, however if you can get past the expletives, underneath lies a rather touching insight into a close knitted family that just can’t cope without each other.

Overall a highly entertaining night at the theatre, and I for one will be next in line to see the 6th part in this exciting trilogy!