Our Mother's Brief Affair on B'wy Starring Linda Lavin

The indomitable and multi-talented Linda Lavin is the star of playwright Richard Greenberg's  ("Take Me Out) new play "Our Mother's Brief Affair." Anna (Lavin) is a Jewish widow & mother of twins Seth & Abby now in their 30's.  Seth is a single gay man who writes obits for a living. Abby has a lesbian lover & young daughter.  The thrust of the play is the banter between Seth & his mother.  Anna  reveals to him from her hospital bed her titilating affair from when he was at Julliard.  The 2 Act 4 actor  play (the deceased husband and romantic dalliance are the same actor) is intended to be both comedic and poignant but the plays's construction makes everything pathetic.  Lavin whose attempts at lascivious nostalgia are grating and her narcissistic expressions are twisted.  The play is cunningly set to sway from hospital bed to a bench in Central Park.  Regrettably, the plot line branches off to infamous historic events entwined with the Rosenbergs' executions.  The writing is nebulous and annoying but it does make some distinct  messages.  Everyone wants to leave behind a legacy.  And, despite being twins & raised together, everyone's vantage & experience are unique.  "Mom always liked you best." (Smother Brothers)  This is not even close to the best work from Tony winning actress Linda Lavin or Tony winning playwright Richard Greenberg.