06.17.26 - As society continues to fracture along party lines, families find it increasingly harder to stay together. Mary Sheppard-Fries excels at writing stories of families facing this struggle. Her characters are simply drawn yet are far from simple themselves. Here, the parents of a trans child fear for not only his safety but also the backlash from a family member embracing the mindset of ostracizing the "different". But a past encounter provides a light in the darkness, giving us hope.

This timely play starts with the all too believable scenario of politics dividing a family. As the play unfolds, Sheppard-Fries does a wonderful job showing us the power of empathy, as one simple act of kindness reaches across multiple generations to bridge differences and remind us of what we have in common. This play is ultimately both relevant and hopeful.

I haven't yet read the previous plays in the trilogy but I found this play engaging and moving. I love the idea that our journeys in life are a part of the greater journey of our ancestors. The idea that an object from the past can speak to a family in crisis was both compelling and comforting. A play for our times, and I felt more hopeful having read it.