After fighting in the war overseas, Timmy Cleary returns home only to be caught in the battle between his parents in the Mark Taper Forum's revival of Frank D. Gilroy's The Subject Was Roses.

Set in the Bronx at the close of World War II, the play still bears relevance today with scores of veterans returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan, but the tale is less a war drama and more a story of family dysfunction.  

Timmy enlisted at the age of 18 and returns three years later to discover his parents' discordant marriage has further deteriorated; worse yet, they seem intent on pulling him into their personal conflict.

The timely story emphasizes not only the strain that is created when veterans return home to families who can't possibly understand what they've experienced in war, but also the fragile bonds of family relationships and the desperate bids for human connection within them.

Written by Gilroy in 1964 and inspired by his life, the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning play still resonates today with its themes of human connection, family struggles and the complications of a veteran returning to civilian life.  

In a fortuitous twist, Martin Sheen returns to the stage as Timmy's father, John Cleary, after having played Timmy more than 45 years ago in the play's Broadway debut.  The role proved pivotal, launching Sheen's career and earning him a Tony.  Now, Sheen stands out as the hard-riding father trying to forge a connection with his son.  

Watching one of the notable actors of our time effortlessly channel his alternately affable and ornery character and struggle to maintain the two most important relationships in his life is poignant.  Sheen's years of acting for film and television lend themselves to an outstanding performance, marred only by a lack of necessary tension between him and the other characters.  At nearly 70 years old, Sheen has come full circle in his career, returning to the stage and providing audiences with the chance to glimpse some of the magic he has brought to his storied career.

The role of Timmy is ably played by Brian Geraghty, who's quickly becoming one of the most transformative actors of his generation.  As one of the main characters in the Oscar-nominated The Hurt Locker and the star of the newly-released Easier with Practice, Geraghty's awkward boyishness translates well onstage.  Although in the beginning his performance is slightly forced, he quickly slips into the role, and it is clear his years of training with New York's Neighborhood Playhouse have made him comfortable in front of a live audience.  He easily plays the character of dutiful son, both sober and drunk, as well as conveys Timmy's yearning to please both of his parents and escape their constant bickering. 

Timmy's mother Nettie is played by Frances Conroy, best known for her role as the matriarch in HBO's Six Feet Under.  A well-established stage actor, Conroy elicits empathy with her sympathetic portrayal of a flighty housewife, but her squeaky voice and fragility seem to render her a one-note character, which soon grows old.  She gives a strong performance, but it lacks the necessary complexity to be riveting. 

Part of the intrigue of the drama is watching the constantly changing alliances within the family and the shifting relationships between members.  John accuses Nettie of having always coddled their son and is jealous of the pair's close relationship, but Nettie is now threatened by a new closeness between John and Timmy.  Adding to the discomfort, years of matrimonial discord have only been exacerbated by Timmy's absence, and the couple seem determined to use him as a pawn in their disagreements.

Watching the father who never served in the military alternately praise and belittle his war hero son highlights the interesting dynamic between fathers and sons, and the battle among love, ego and competition.  Timmy seems uncertain in his role as the homecoming soldier whose parents won't allow him to go beyond regaling war stories and being paraded at the local pub by his father, or playing the role of entertainer and mama's boy with his mother. Scenes such as Timmy's homecoming breakfast with his mother making his "favorite" meal (which he unfortunately doesn't remember) in an attempt to re-establish closeness and outdo his newfound connection with his father, further underscore the dysfunction in the family.

In this restrained interpretation directed by Neil Pepe, the production could have benefited from an increased intensity in the actors' performances, as there is a sense that the acting is thoughtful but lacking a certain friction.  Despite the play's missing fireworks, it provides an entertaining night with enjoyable performances by two legendary actors and strong acting by Brian Geraghty.