Mother You review: Turf wars and tea | Tiger Dublin Fringe

Mother You

Block B Cultural Space, Smithfield

***

One moment can encapsulate a performance. Towards the end of Louise White's Mother You, one of the cast reveals the strategy behind saving a bog from Bord Na Móna exploitation: instead of summations of botanical richness or predictions of environmental catastrophe, the community simply states that it wishes to continue to enjoy it as it is. Seated in a grim, as-yet-unused office space in Smithfield, the audience can't help reflect on a community's rights to space, whether urban or rural. Of course bogs are sexier than retail opportunities, but Mother You plants a transferable call-to-arms, showing that positive reclamation can be more effective than shouty protests and bootboy intimidation. There are no brickbats – that's not White's style – but a simple and considered manipulation of audience empathy. This is easily won through funny and personable performers, clever devices such as a "synergy pack" and the complimentary pre-show tea (go for blackberry and black pepper).