Mothers and Sons

The Philadelphia Theatre Company, housed in the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, Broad and Lombard Streets, is presenting Terrance McNally’s Mother’s and Sons through March 6. Emmy-Award-winning actress Michael Learned gives a powerful performance as Katherine Girard, a resentful and embittered woman who lost her only son to AIDS 20 years ago. She is reserved and somewhat cold-hearted when she unexpectedly appears at the upscale Manhattan apartment of her late son’s partner Cal, portrayed by James Lloyd Reynolds.  Cal is now married to Will Ogden, played by Hugh Kennedy and the two of them have a son.  Although two decades have gone by, Katherine fiercely holds on to her antiquated beliefs and feels powerless as she explores her sense of loneliness. Cal tries to overlook her callousness and his husband’s jealousy.  Michael Learned vividly shows us a Katherine who is estranged from everyone and everything…even from herself.  It is not until the young child, (played alternatively by Jacob Wilner and Patrick Gibbons Jr.) relates to her on a very basic level that she finds some sense of self and relief from the grief that has been plaguing her for years. For more information or tickets, call 215-985-0420 or visit online at PhiladelphiaTheatreCompany.org.