Mona and Mimi – Unity Theatre

Mona and Mimi by Catherine Leen, premiering at the Unity Theatre on the 3^rd and 4^th of September, played deservedly to a sold-out audience. Telling the story of the guardians of Pete Best, original drummer of the Beatles, and John Lennon (you’ve probably heard of him) as they but heads over the future of the Beatles, we get a wonderful tale of two strong women debating what they believe to be the best course of action in protecting, and encouraging, their boys.

The staging is simple, with a few chairs and a backdrop to signify a seamless set change. The simplicity adds to the DIY feel of the play, which I personally love, and allows the dialogue and story flow naturally between the two actors, Meriel Scholfield, playing the cogent Mimi (that is, Mrs. Smith, Lennon’s aunt), and Fiona Boylan, Best’s mother Mo. Xenia Bayer’s wonderful sound design elevates the production, allowing us to feel like the black box really is Best’s underground music club.

While the 55-minute production was tight and effective, the overall crux of the story wore somewhat thin. The playwright, Catherine Leen, seems to have missed a trick by not playing with the in-built dramatic irony of Pete Best’s story – that is, that he is kicked out of the band even though his mother has worked so hard to get them their success. It’s alluded to, when Noah Fox’s Neil refers to “changes” that John is making within the Beatles, but it sadly goes no further than this. Storylines are set up that aren’t explored further, despite the electricity that flows between the women when they’re discussing themselves rather than their dependents. All in all, though, this is really just a desire for the play to be longer: Leen does wonders with exposition and dialogue that personifies the argument of tradition versus modernity.

Director Nick Bagnall’s direction is simple and uncluttered, respecting the text and the volume of arguments the women must get through in such a short space of time. While Boylan’s Mo is a powerhouse in knocking down the jabs that Mimi sets up, she’s somewhat impeded by the Lennon-centric script. As Pete’s mother, who is incredibly interesting in her own right, I would have loved to have heard about the forgotten drummer, rather than be planted into the centre of the John Lennon fan-club. As a woman so committed to upending patriarchal expectations, it was perhaps a challenge for Mo to exist within a script that almost entirely concerned the lives of men. Meriel Scholfield’s Mrs. Smith is a true scene stealer throughout despite this, not allowing the sometimes one-note naysayer character to lose her conviction or edge.

The production overall was a beautiful slice of Beatles’ lesser-known history, and I hope it returns to Liverpool as a longer production in the future.

Reviewer: Anna Ní Dhúill

Reviewed: 5th September 2025

North West End UK Rating: