Set in Camden in 1985, Mammy’s House follows a group of Irish friends who have created a home and chosen family together after leaving Ireland in search of greater acceptance. But as the AIDS epidemic takes hold and discrimination continues to shape everyday life, their relationships are tested in ways they never imagined. The production was developed over two years through extensive research and conversations with members of London’s Irish LGBTQ+ community.
Review by Richard Lambert
Do we need another AIDS play from the ’80s?
The UK Government slogan “AIDS: Don’t Die of Ignorance” was used during the major government HIV/AIDS public-information campaign launched in 1986, with the most memorable nationwide advertising and leaflet campaign running into 1987. There have been many gay plays about this period — the stigma, the trauma and the inhumanity.
This play takes a look at it from an Irish perspective, with a little bit of Catholic guilt thrown in. It highlights how young men could be ostracised and often leave their families and hometowns to avoid shame and seek love and community.
There is a parallel theme here with the harm caused by denying abortions to young women. Religion and a lack of humanity have a lot to answer for.
The set and lighting work very well in this production, although the rather over-fussy scene changes could do with some finesse. The Irish diction also made it quite hard to understand at times for some of us non-Irish, and the pace of the dialogue didn’t always feel naturally responsive.
The sound levels were unusual, too, and possibly not all the speakers were working on the night I saw the performance.
Despite these concerns, this play has a lot of heart, and the audience clearly enjoyed it. Perhaps we do need 40-year revivals of stories like this — reminders of an important and shameful stain on society’s history.
Cast
Derek Murphy — Mammy / Barry
Conor O’Dwyer — Niall / Nellie
Jemma Curran — Mags
Ciara Pouncett — Sally
Stephen Cheriton — Ginny Tonic / Justin
Justin Ensor — Shay
Creatives
Amy Clarke — Writer
Derek Murphy & Amy Clarke — Creators
Brian Brady — Director
Derek Murphy & Amy Clarke / Spoon, Fork, Knife Productions — Producers
Jacky Levy — Costume Designer