In “Unbroken Circle”, writer James Wesley presents us with the portrait of a family on the verge of collapse. The year is 1970, the setting a Galveston so undeniably Texan that people make “mormon” sound like “Merman,” and where a family gets together for the first time in years after the funeral of their patriarch, only to be torn apart by secrets they’ve been hiding for decades. If any of this sounds familiar, it’s because Wesley has framed his play in the vein of Tracy Letts’ brilliant “August: Osage County” which dealt with similar themes; including delusional relatives, overprotective mothers and children who have gone through more than their young years should allow for.

Cleverly directed by Jason St. Little, the staging makes the most of Wesley’s multiple storylines and characters, giving all the actors a chance to shine. Suzanna Hay turns in a devastating performance as the secretive widow Ruby, who has to deal with her son’s (Wesley) mediocre aspirations and her estranged daughter’s (a truly moving Anika Larsen) resentment. Through Ruby, the playwright beautifully exposes the dilemma of wanting your children to love you even if you haven’t been an exemplary parent.

At the center of the story, we have a dark event that forever changed the lives of all involved and it’s satisfying to see Wesley dramatize the issue without sensationalizing it. The play is often slowed down by many faux finales in which we see the story achieve a dramatic peak, only to have it upended moments later by something more relevant, but considering there are so many moments of joy - particularly those involving scene-stealer Eve Plumb as the alcoholic Aunt June - “Unbroken Circle” makes for one memorable night at the theater.