The Mother was written during Brecht's most didactic phase of writing, and as such, it is a curious choice for the National Theatre to perform, remembling a docu-drama on the rise of the Socialist Workers' Movement from 1905 to the Bolshevik strike of 1917. 
   The potentially stilted nature of the episodic format of the scenes is largely saved by Brecht's warm and very human portrayal of Pelaega Vlasova, a middle-aged widow unwillingly drawn into the Movement by the desire to protect her revolutionary son (Pavel), and eventually becoming a figurehead and inspiration of Bolshevism in her own right. Through her, Brecht teaches his audience the basic beliefs of Marxism, even giving a brief and accessible introduction to Marxist economics.

Although Pavel is the driving force behind Vlasova's beliefs, he does not appear that much in the play. After being arrested for his role in the Movement, he is shipped to Siberia, where he is visited by his Mother, to get names of other revolutionaries. On being led off back to his confinement, he sings a 4 verse song on how the State tries to crush the Movement with capitalism and armies, although one day "neither money nor cannon will answer their call".
    Pavel eventually escapes  and makes his way back across Russia to Finland, where he aims to spread the Message to their workers. It is on this exodus that he reappears in the play (12 years later), visiting his mother and witnessing how she has become a vital, driving force in the Movement. They avoid overt sentimentality  in their brief reuninfication, Pavel joking that "he finds no refuge where he can  lay his head down, except in an illegal printing shop. And his mother, instead of stroking his hair, takes the finished pages out!".
    Pavel is executed at the Finnish border by Russian guards.

It would be interesting to see how the National handled this production, particularly in the inclusion of Brecht's songs/lyrics (there are a lot in the play): some productions have chosen to use spoken-verse instead of singing. 
If sung, this would mark (to my very limited knowledge) Ronan's first musical performance (the others being in Antarctica and the 'Rex Harrison on speed' singing of The Princess and th Pea).

Quote: (on the 1st May 1905 Great Workers' Strike)
"It was important it should be us in particular they hit and threw down, and our flag in particular -- the red flag -- they took away...so that all the workers would see who we were and who we were for; namely, the workers"
 

• Di Trevis also directed Vibert at the National in A Matter of Life and Death. See Loose Ends for other people Vibert has worked with more than once.
• Has performed at least two Russia-based plays (see War and Peace).

Back Rowing with the Wind
Back On the Black Hill
Next Queen of Hearts
Theatre Resume
VIBERTOGRAPHY