Mother Of All The Behans – 3Olympia – Review

From Tues 15th to Sat 26th August, 2023
From the Book by Brian Behan, Adapted & Directed by Peter Sheridan
Additional Material by Rosaleen Linehan

The play opens with Imelda May propped up in a bed at the centre of the stage. There is a partition screen on one side of the stage, and a window hangs in the space behind her. At the side of the stage, there is another performer. Slightly detached from the events on stage, a man sits behind a keyboard, which hints at the events of the evening ahead, as we meet Kathleen Behan for an evening of stories and song.

The production focuses on the life of a woman who is by no means a household name, but she lived an extraordinary life. We meet Kathleen Behan as an old woman in the last days of her life. She then recounts stories about her early years and her children. She also sings some famous songs from the time, including a number written by her brother.

Kathleen Behan (née Kearney) was born in 1889 and lived to the ripe old age of 95, dying in 1984. Her oldest brother, Peadar Kearney, was a Republican who wrote the lyrics to “The Soldier’s Song” which would later become the Irish National Anthem. She had Republican roots and knew a number of those involved in the 1916 rising. She strongly believed in the rights of the workers and was involved in politics. She had seven children, two with her first husband Jack Furlong (who died of the Spanish Flu) and five with her second husband Stephen Behan. Her children included Brendan Behan, the well-known writer and novelist, and Brian, the trade unionist and speaker.

“I feel it’s imperative to leave my comfort zone often and swim a little deeper each time. I’m terrified and thrilled by this project but I feel passionately about this play, this story, this period of our history and culture and most importantly this woman”. – Imelda May

Imelda May makes her theatre debut in this production. May is mainly known as a singer and has released six albums, dating “No Turning Back” in 2003. She does have previous experience in acting, as she played Aubrey in the 2022 film, Fisherman’s Friends: One and All.

This production was released to mark the centenary of the birth of Brendan Behan. He is a writer who has faded in the public consciousness in recent years and this work will help him to bring him back to the forefront. The piece is directed by Peter Sheridan who has vast experience on the stage. In a sense, Imelda May could not be in better hands with Sheridan. She is also perfectly cast for the role, so does not have to stretch herself to play the character. Kathleen Behan was a Dublin character, a strong woman who fought her corner; characteristics that are reminiscent of Imelda herself. May is a calm and deliberate presence on stage and her time as a performer has served her well, as there seemed few nerves in front of the large audience. The comedic element of the script also helped, as there are some very funny moments. The musical sections were obviously her strong point, as she belts out songs like ‘The Auld Triangle’ and ‘Molly Malone’ with her rich and warm voice. It’s a piece that does not dwell on the sadness of her life, instead giving a warm and sanguine view of her many ups and downs.