As the name suggests, Mothers and Sons is a play about family relationships, but it is so much more. Katherine (Joan End), whose son, Andre, died of AIDS 20 years prior, pays an unexpected visit to Cal (Mark Neufang), Andre’s former lover, his husband, Will (Nathan Marinan), and their 6-year-old son, Bud (Pamela Stace).
The script simply does everything right. The playwright, Terrence McNally, has been described as “one of the greatest contemporary playwrights the theater world has yet produced” for a reason. The play hits every nail on the head and touches on a wide variety of subjects. The AIDS epidemic is talked about with respect (as can only be expected from a gay playwright), but the script also tackles LGBTQ parenting, open relationships, surrogacy, internalized homophobia, gender roles, grief and the loss of a child. The emotions are raw, the subject matter heavy, yet the audience enjoyed moments of hearty laughter—mostly thanks to Katherine’s hilarious dry sarcasm.
All of these points are conveyed wonderfully by the team of Boulevard Theatre. It is introduced as “a reading” of Mothers and Sons, but the four performers truly act their parts. Despite having lecterns, they move, look at each other and convey emotions and chemistry flawlessly. It was the best acting I’ve seen in a long time. As Mark Neufang puts it, “We dig deeply into the text; we don’t just recite it.”
As a married gay man, I was delighted to see same-sex marriage and parenting presented as a normal, sometimes tedious and complicated affair. Seeing Katherine—whose homophobia hasn’t diminished since a “gay disease” killed her son—grow to learn more about life as a gay person was equally thrilling. Additionally, Katherine’s character is so human—flawed, but not evil—that she will certainly speak deeply to older, more conservative audiences.
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The bottom line is that you must see Mothers and Sons. Not only does Boulevard Theatre need support to keep bringing LGBTQ-friendly performances to Milwaukee, but this play imparts a lesson that we all need to learn. It teaches humility, acceptance and humanity. If you are LGBTQ yourself, or if you’re a parent feeling confused by your child’s coming out, Mothers and Sons will help you understand. And, I believe you will come out of the room greatly entertained and a bit wiser.
Through Sunday, Nov. 25, at Plymouth Church, 2717 E. Hampshire St. For tickets, visit brownpapertickets.com or milwaukeeboulevardtheatre.com.
