Mother/Son

Jeffrey Solomon’s play is a tour-de-force of skilful writing and performance. The show smacks of class. Reflecting a dual coming out story, Solomon plays the characters of the gay son, coming out to his parents for the first time in his twenties, and the domineering mother, who has to come to terms with all the things that plague domineering mothers with gay sons … no grandchildren … fear of contracting AIDS … having to face the monsters of realisation that her son could end up as a character in the horror stories she’s heard related to gay culture … the guilt of maybe contributing to the terrible fate of her son’s gayness … the desperate attempt to cling to the idea that it might be a passing phase … that marriage or counselling might solve the issue …

But gradually, over time, we see the two of them adjust … the son has to adjust to the fact that now he’s out to his mother, that involves a new level of trust and communication. The mother takes some tentative steps towards trying to make sense of something she’d never imagined she would have the courage to face, and going on a journey she never imagined she would take.

This is a real-life journey many people in a homophobic society in which there is an increasing gay liberation presence have had to face, and continue to face and it is to Solomon’s credit that his dramatisation and performance of the journey touch on all the salient points without ever slipping into melodrama. There is drama, emotion, pathos and bathos galore, but it never goes over the top. The quiet, understated way in which the themes and events are put across is all the more powerful for that.

Tears are guaranteed, as is laughter. What’s more, there is the potential for you to be moved with the experience affecting your life beyond the play. This is one of the rare plays which has the power to stay in the hearts and imaginations of all who have seen it. It is one of my highlights of the Fringe so far.