The Sum of Us

Who says “family values” have no place in gay theatre? theatre Q returns to the Dean Lesher Regional Center for the Arts with its Spring production: the warm-hearted tale of family love and connection, The Sum of Us, by David Stevens.

The Sum of Us tells the story of Jeff Mitchell, a gay plumber in Australia who shares a home with his widowed father, Harry. Brought closer together by their loss, both men are starting to figure out how to pursue new love in their lives while including each other in the process. Harry finds it difficult to tell Joyce, his new romantic interest, that Jeff is seeking “Mr. Right,” and Jeff wonders if it’s really a good idea to bring Greg home to meet a father that is overly-supportive of his son finding a life-mate. Add these ingredients to Jeff’s desire for an old-fashioned romantic relationship and Harry’s delightfully-honest acceptance of his son’s sexuality and you have a new equation for a happy, healthy family history. Harry admits, after all, “Our children are only the sum of us, what we add up to.” But will father and son realize the strength of their relationship before it’s too late?