Watch The Gabriels: Election Year in the Life of One FamilyPlay 3: Women of a Certain Age

The Gabriels: Election Year in the Life of One Family is a trilogy of plays written by Tony award-winning playwright, Richard Nelson. The third and final play in the series, Women of a Certain Age, returns to the Gabriels as they gather for a Thanksgiving meal in their upstate New York home, just a few weeks after the 2016 Presidential election.

As with the previous plays, the action unfolds in real time and the characters feel like real people, thanks in no small part to the excellent performances from Maryann Plunkett, Jay O. Sanders, Lynn Hawley, Meg Gibson, Roberta Maxwell, and Amy Warren. The conversations feel authentic and unforced, and the characters' concerns and struggles are relatable.

One of the strengths of the Gabriels plays is their ability to capture a moment in time, both in terms of current events and the lives of the characters. Women of a Certain Age tackles both head-on, as the Gabriels grapple with the fallout from the election and their own personal struggles. We see them confront issues of grief, aging, illness, and family dynamics, all while trying to make sense of a political landscape that feels at times baffling and frightening.

One of the central figures in Women of a Certain Age is Karin (Plunkett), the matriarch of the Gabriel family. Karin is a retired doctor who is dealing with the recent death of her husband and the onset of dementia. Plunkett gives a nuanced and empathetic performance as Karin, capturing both her intelligence and her vulnerability. We see Karin struggle to hold onto her memories and her sense of self, even as she feels herself slipping away.

Another key character in Women of a Certain Age is Mary (Hawley), Karin's sister-in-law. Mary is a costume designer who is dealing with her own health issues, including a recent cancer diagnosis. Like Karin, Mary is grappling with questions of mortality and identity. Hawley's performance is understated but powerful, and she brings a touching vulnerability to the role.

Other members of the Gabriel family also get their moments to shine in Women of a Certain Age. George (Sanders), Karin's brother, is a playwright who is struggling to find his footing creatively in the wake of his wife's death. Sandra (Gibson), George's wife, is a therapist who is dealing with her own professional and personal challenges. And Hannah (Warren), George and Sandra's daughter, is a struggling actor who is dealing with a difficult director and the pressure to succeed.

Throughout the play, the characters try to make sense of the election and what it means for them and their country. They discuss everything from the role of the media to the issue of fake news to the sense of betrayal felt by many working-class Americans. At times the conversations can feel heavy-handed, but for the most part, they feel like a natural outgrowth of the characters and their concerns.

Women of a Certain Age is not a play that provides easy answers or neat resolutions. Instead, it is a snapshot of a family at a moment of great change and uncertainty. As the play draws to a close, the Gabriels sit down to share a Thanksgiving meal, but the mood is far from festive. Instead, they sit in silence, each lost in their own thoughts and fears about the future.

Overall, Women of a Certain Age is a thoughtful and moving end to the Gabriels trilogy. It is a play that captures both the personal and the political, and it does so with nuance and grace. Whether you are a fan of Richard Nelson's work or simply someone who is trying to make sense of the world we live in, Women of a Certain Age is a play that is well worth seeing.

The Gabriels: Election Year in the Life of One FamilyPlay 3: Women of a Certain Age is a 2017 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 46 minutes.