Mothers and Sons

Terrence McNally’s Mothers and Sons is, in essence, a sequel to his 1990 TV drama Andre’s Mother, which won him an Emmy award. Unfortunately, like many sequels, this play falls flat.

It’s now a quarter of a century since Andre died and his mother Katharine (Anne Tenney) pays a visit to the man who would have been her son-in-law, Cal (Jason Langley). Andre was killed by AIDS and his mother continues to mourn him – but she also still struggles to accept he was gay.

McNally is interested in what’s changed – and hasn’t – in 25 years. But the play becomes bogged down in debates over equality and family values rather than maximising the drama at hand.

Cal is now married to Will (Tim Draxl) and they have a young son. They’re living the model life of a modern family – and in comes Katherine, doing the most she can to destroy this. That’s a story with lots of potential but instead it becomes laboured, particularly in the first half.

Tenney plays Katherine as a defeated woman, stoic and unwavering in her beliefs but permanently miserable. It would be nice to see a portrayal with more charisma, to be shown likeability in Katherine so that we can sympathise with her struggle. She has some very funny lines but in this production, the audience can only laugh with bitterness. It’s simply unbelievable that Cal would allow such a woman to stay.

Langley’s Cal lacks charisma of a different kind – he is too pleasant and inoffensive. Thankfully, Draxl injects plenty of energy on stage. He’s a well-known cabaret performer but again proves his acting skills. Thomas Fisher engages in six-year-old Bud’s dialogue with skill and gusto but often lacks focus.

It’s a shame that Sandra Bates, who has run the Ensemble since 1986, has not worked more impressively with the cast to bring out the notable opportunity that McNally’s play provides: a platform for great performances. The set design, by Rodney Fisher, is effective but doesn’t quite capture such a glamorous Manhattan apartment.

But ultimately there are structural problems in Mothers and Sons that the Ensemble was always going to struggle against. With plays like Master Class and Love! Valour! Compassion – and indeed Andre’s Mother – McNally has a fine pedigree but this more recent work disappoints.

Peter Gotting

Images: (top) Tim Draxl, Thomas Fisher and Jason Langley & (lower) Anne Tenney and Jason Langley in Mothers and Sons. Photos by Clare Hawley.