The Road

Ralphy, a young gay man, is dying of AIDS and vents his rage on his parents. He leaves and hitch-hikes across America sending his parents a constant stream of abusive and angry letters. All the while he is getting sicker. At home his mother and father have to face hard truths about their son and their now sexless marriage. Decent people trying to do the right thing, they do not understand their son's attitude toward them. When they discover where he is, they are faced with the decision of whether to leave him there as he wishes or to bring him home to die.

"... the bitter, unsettling tale takes hold and makes you squirm. This is the story of Ralphy, a young gay man dying of AIDS. What makes the play so discomfiting is not his impending death, but his cruel rage against his parents and the way he acts it out. ... his parents will do anything for their dying son - except speak the truth. Ralphy can't bear it. He hits the road, peppering his helpless Mom and Dad with angry letters - and final farewells ..." -Francine Russo, Village Voice

"... Edwin Sánchez's poignant dysfunctional-family drama, THE ROAD ... Sánchez's excellent, compelling drama ... the heart-rending text ... Sánchez's well-written script offers appropriate comic relief with heartfelt expressions of pain, desire and frustration. THE ROAD is ... exhilarating ..." -Robert Kent, Next Magazine