By Krissey Browder for LSt

Lee Street continues its tenth season with “Mothers & Sons,” a touching play about what happens when a strained relationship between a mother and son is reconciled too late.

Andy Rassler directs this poignant and complex tale of forgiveness, hope, and evolution of thought as one generation comes to terms with the world’s perpetual tendency to evolve with the passage of time.

Challenged to face how society has changed around her, one woman pays an unexpected visit to the New York apartment of her late son’s partner, who is now married and has a young son. Generations collide as she revisits the past and begins to see the life her son might have led.

Director Andy Rassler shared her thoughts on the play and what an impact it has made on her life as well as her cast.

“Astute, thoughtful and insightful actors and crew have committed themselves to the telling of a story that is a tricky, difficult, compelling, and necessary story to tell. Mothers and Sons tackles many universal themes: love, loss, family and grief. However, in the midst of it all is hope, humor and empathy. Through the compassion of Cal, the confidence of Will, and the innocence of their son, Bud, we are witnesses to the journey of Katherine, still wounded from the loss of her son, Andre.

It’s a story that can’t be told without holding a careful magnifying glass to the words Terrance McNally has crafted, a process that has been exceptionally rewarding for all of us. This play has been important to me because it’s helped me to widen my scope of compassion, to re-examine just what it is that’s essential. I’m looking forward to seeing what impact this play has on Lee Street’s audience. It has certainly had an impact on me.”

The cast includes Jean Kadela as Katherine Gerard, Chris Eller as Cal Porter, Nick Culp as Will Ogden, and Kaulton Kuddie as Bud Ogden-Gerard. The creative team includes Andy Rassler as director, Priscilla Franklin as set designer and Chris Speer as lighting designer and technical director.

Performances are Sept. 28-30 and Oct. 5-7 at 7:30 p.m. at Lee Street Theatre, 329 N. Lee St. Tickets are $15+tax at www.leestreet.org or 704-310-5507.