Casualty of War*

About the Show

SYNOPSIS

Sharon’s got a perfect itinerary planned: A mother-son tour of Normandy and Omaha Beach, with some road tripping, great French food and a visit to Paris. What she gets is a journey with a sullen, heart-broken adolescent whose own emotional D-Day turns him into a hostile adversary pining for home. There’s a war brewing and it’s not between the Germans and the Allies. While trying to make the best of things by attempting to outmaneuver her son’s everchanging moods (i.e., being a mom), she’s surprised by how the WW2 history they encounter invokes memories of antisemitism and the impact the Holocaust had on her family. Casualty of War explores the timeless themes of motherhood, intergenerational trauma and identity.

You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll crave rosé.

* This production is being presented under the auspices of the Actors’ Equity Association Los Angeles Self-Produced Project Code.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT CASUALTY OF WAR:

“Sharon Lesser had me grinning from ear to ear. Hilarious, poignant, and relatable, “Casualty of War” mixes the joys and dramas of family travel with profound historic events. It was a performance I will not forget.”

“I was riveted! Sharon held my unwavering attention as she shared a very meaningful and timely story about motherhood and Jewish history during an emotional sojourn to Normandy with her teenage son. I laughed and I cried. If I were president this would be mandatory viewing in schools across this country. We all have something to glean from this profound production.”

“Sharon Lesser’s Casualty of War surprises again and again with its deft comic touch, serious take on family and raw emotion as a mother and son take a picaresque journey though France, D-Day and the history of antisemitism in her family and her own life. I was on the edge of my seat throughout her captivating solo performance. If you have the opportunity, see this show!”

“Casualty of War is that rare piece of art that speaks to nearly everyone. If you’re a mother, you get it. If you’re a child who has lost a parent, you get it. If you’re divorced, you get it. It speaks to the human condition of love, loss and the desire to be one’s best self. With wisdom and insight Sharon Lesser reminds her audience that life’s most difficult moments are best met with a huge heart and rapier wit.”