What does moving on look like?

Bobby Steggert, Frederick Weller, Grayson Taylor, and Tyne
Daly in a scene from Terrence McNally's "Mothers and
Sons," at the Golden Theatre. Photo © Joan Marcus

Loss can be a paralyzing experience.

In Terrence McNally's "Mothers and Sons," at the Golden Theatre, it is particularly difficult and the way forward is a slog.

It is more so for Katharine Gerard (Tyne Daly), the titular mother in this play, for whom the death of her son nearly twenty years ago remains a fresh wound.  She shows up at Cal Porter's (Frederick Weller) door unbidden because he is her one connection to Andre. For Katharine, who is recently widowed, Andre was the only beacon of love in a bitter life.

Cal has not forgotten Andre but he has allowed himself some happiness. His sunnier present is with Will Ogden (Bobby Steggert) whose youth and disposition help them to make a home for their son Bud (Grayson Taylor).  The Ogden-Porters are guppies, an affluent gay family, something that was not even thought of while Andre was alive.

Frederick Weller as Cal and Tyne Daly as Katharine in a
scene from "Mothers and Sons." Photo © Joan Marcus

Katharine did not expect this. She is a ramrod of indignation anger and vengeance. Andre's death was cataclysmic. There should be no moving on. Cal has picked up the pieces as Katharine could not.

As Katharine, Tyne Daly is at once brittle and ascerbic. Wheeler's mild-mannered Cal is the perfect foil for the hateful Katharine, whose grief is a heaviness that is only lifted in her very sweet and natural interactions with Bud.

Don't shy from "Mothers and Sons" because it is a genuinely sad and moving play.  There is plenty of humor and wit to ease us along. The drama is well played by all the four principals, and well paced under Sheryl Kaller's able direction, and well worth your time.

To learn more about "Mothers and Sons," please visit http://mothersandsonsbroadway.com/.