Let's face it, Terrence McNally's terrific play, Mothers and Sons is, essentially a two-hander. Granted there are 4 actors in the cast, but if the 2 leads are incapable of carrying the evening, the 90 minutes would be totally ineffective.

Luckily, director Joseph Adler, has cast Angie Radosh and Michael McKeever, 2 actors at the top of their game, to head the cast. McKeever is Cal a middle-aged man who was partnered with Katherine's (Radosh) son, Andre for 6 years before he passed away from AIDS. Katherine has created her own world that she longed for as a youth growing up on the "wrong side of the tracks", Port Jefferson, and has become a matron of a certain age from Rye, New York, in her adopted home of Dallas, which she loathes along with everything else in her life. An unhappier character would be hard to find: her adored son has died as has her husband. She has paid an unexpected, unannounced visit to Cal and the games begin.

Cal is now living on Central Park West with his husband, Will and their 6 year old, Bud. Katherine is entering a world she refuses to understand, let alone acknowledge. Her self-imposed ignorance is heart-wrenching and Radosh through her instincts and ability to convey an emotion with a minimum glance of her cobra-like eyes, makes an unlikeable character one who you can't help commiserate with. How can everything be so "normal" when she is living in her land of denial? McNally illustrates just how in his craftily written play.

McKeever is using his inherent ability to play likeable through the first half , until he erupts in a scathing monologue that hits Radosh right between the eyes. A playwright of considerable merit, McKeever's latest acting sojourns have shown a maturity and growth that are a pleasure to observe.

Jeremiah Musgrove portrays Will and, at the performance caught, Max Leifman played the young son. Both did the best they could with roles that are sketchy, at best, but integral to the plot.

When all is said and done, the play belongs to Radosh, McKeever, and director Adler. A gorgeous set designed by Lyle Baskin surrounds these 2 glorious performers in Central Park West chic.

Mothers and Sons is a play that had to be written. There are still a plethora of Katherines among us and McNally heeded the call. Congratulations to Joe Adler and Gablestage for being the first regional theatre to produce this important play immediately after its Broadway run. I urge you to see it.

Mothers and Sons Gablestage Theatre, 1200 Anastasia Ave., Coral Gables, FL. 305-445-1119 Thursday - Saturday @ 8PM Sunday @ 2PM and 7PM www.gablestage.org.

See the current theatre season schedule for southern Florida.

-- Jeffrey Bruce