The Mothership review: A comic journey through parenthood, with two hilarious hosts

The Mothership

Bewley’s Cafe Theatre

★★★☆☆

Tantrums have been defused, toilet opportunities have been optimised and The Mothership is ready for take-off. With toddlers settled, Anne Gill and Sharon Mannion are ready to take tired mothers on a comic journey through parenthood, pointing out their greatest joys and darkest fears along the way.

Gill and Mannion are hilarious hosts who “look good — for moms —” in khaki jumpsuits and sequin vests. They bring a welcome theatricality to their stand-up routine, including a rousing anthem called Bad Momma and a dialogue between two postpartum vaginas presented as a sock-puppet play.

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The Mothership is offered as part of the Bright Club project, which twins comedy and science. But there are more belly laughs than unbiased facts in this 60-minute variety show, whose academic “experts” on the opening night include a doula/lactation consultant and another comedian-parent (Deirdre O’Kane), which stretches the idea that all mothers are experts (in their own houses, with their own kids) a bit thin. The gathered audience don’t seem to mind much, though, responding instead to the sense of reassurance and recognition aboard this rib-tickling vessel for momcom.

Runs at Bewley’s Cafe Theatre, Dublin 2, until Sunday, September 18th, as part of Dublin Fringe Festival