Terrence McNally has somehow created a hopeful show out of
pain, anger and loneliness at the Golden Theater, were Tyne Daly heads an
amazing cast in Mothers and Sons. Like
only the very best of plays, it leaves you at once both anxious and
anticipatory of what comes next.
 |
| Bobby Steggert, Frederick Weller, Grayson Taylor and Tyne Daly. |
The premise is deceptively straightforward. Tyne
Daly plays Katharine Gerard, a formidable Yankee who has dwelled in Dallas
since her marriage. Her son, Andre, died
of AIDS almost 30 years ago, and she has come to New York to visit her son’s
surviving lover, Cal.
Cal, Frederick Weller playing cautious and wary, has been in
a relationship now for over a decade and is now married to his partner,
Will. Tyne Daly and Frederick Weller
launch into this odd meeting rather tentatively. Cal doesn’t know what Katharine is looking
for, and it slowly dawns on the audience that Katharine doesn’t either. Their forays into conversation are stilted
and awkward.
Bobby Steggart plays new husband Will. Will is younger and unconstrained by any
history with Katharine. He is not happy
with Katharine’s unannounced visit, and protective of his husband and their
son. He isn’t shy about confronting this
directly and he challenges Katharine’s passive aggressive nature. Bobby Steggart balances this difficult role
nimbly, being direct without ever being bitchy.
Their son, Bud, is nicely played without being overplayed by
Grayson Taylor. An honest and direct
child, he engages Katharine and the topic of her dead son without any of the
emotional baggage that everyone else carries.
Mothers and Sons covers a lot of emotional territory with a
whipsawing of mood swings. The only
false moments are in the manufactured entrances and exits during Bud’s bath time. You know a real parent would get annoyed long
before he returns to the stage.
Director Sheryl Kaller gives the drama plenty of room to
play out, letting the comedic moments shine, without losing the edge. Mothers and Sons deals with loss and
acceptance, it could have as easily been about the loss a child to cancer. The void, the lack of closure, the pain and
the humor in the face of it are nearly universal. This show packs a wallop that is unexpected.
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Mothers and Sons
Playwright: Terrance McNally
Director: Sheryl Kaller
Cast: Tyne Daly, Frederick Weller, Bobby Steggert, Grayson Taylor
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