SpeakEasy Stage Company’s latest play is Terry McNally’s 2014 Tony Nominee for best play, Mothers & Sons. The 1oo minute perfomance is powerfully touching and may be my favorite play this season from a Boston theater company.
This play is going to speak directly to the LGBT community in a powerful way as the rapid fire dialog between Katharine Gerard and her late son’s partner, Cal, verbally spar as they walk down a painful memory lane. What separates this play from many that address AIDS is that it takes place in present day in Cal’s Manhattan apartment. While Katharine Gerard retains many of her prejudices about homosexuality, she is forced to face how life has changed as she meets Cal’s husband Will Ogden and their inquisitive son, Bud. The show is filled with hilarious quips most often delivered by Katharine Gerard (played by Nancy Carroll). My favorite is when she insists, “Andre wasn’t gay when he came to New York,” Lines like this are interspersed through out the show lightening moments and offering surprising chuckles.
Mothers & Sons opened last week and runs through June 6, 2015 – closing one week prior to Boston Pride. I’d strongly recommend making this a date night with your significant other or with a band of your friends. The play is touching and will evoke emotions for those enough to remember the AIDS Crisis and insight into that struggle for those born after it.
BosGuy 
I was blessed to attend a preview performance – GO GO GO everyone!
In the 1990s we lived on Shawmut Ave and Kevin was dying – he was from Chicago and his mom was not really all into his being gay. His illness progressed to the point that he really was not able to be at home – but he had asked that he stay in the apartment. We moved him into the dining room (because it had the space for the hospital bed.)
My mother Davone z”l was a frequent visitor – she made lots of food and once Kevin’s mom was there – she was battling with accepting her son was dying – never mind gay.
I always admired that my mom did not have an edit switch – she just called it as she saw it. Kevin’s mom Nancy was so conflicted – I am not sure all that was going on in her head.
My mom actually screamed at her and told her to “get the fuck over yourself.” Nancy at first was not receptive – but my mom was never one to back down – hell she survived the Shoah. Mom yelled at her asking if she was not seeing what was going on here – Kev wanted to be at home – Didier and myself re-purposed the dining room to accommodate the bed – my mom was crass and said to Nancy that she needed to get a hold of herself because her so is dying – and he wants to die here. Where people love him and if she is not able to love him without conditions she would need to leave.
That prompted a conversation long overdue.
When it was time for Kevin to leave this realm his mom was there holding his hand. We also had our Rabbi Emily in the room – Nancy did not want to cry – Emily told her she must – it is a release. We can not hold onto the soul – we must let it go.
Part of my sadness about the potential closing of the Franklin Cafe is that they were so kind and sent three meals a week for Kev. Turkey meatloaf. He loved it – and it was of a constancy soft enough that he could chew – and they always sent mashed potatoes and turnip puree.
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