Duke and Roya
Written by Charles Randolph-Wright
Directed by Warren Adams
Lucille Lortel Theatre
July 30, 2025
Production website
💉💉💉 out of 5.

Playwright Charles Randolph-Wright claims that he was inspired to write this play from a story that he read that spoke of a practice in Aphghanistan known as bacha posh – – a practice in which young girls dress up as boys to see out education and further to simply survive, “It stunned me (Charles Randolph-Wright). I thought, ‘I have to tell this story.’ I couldn’t get it out of my head.”

Prince Faggot
Written by Jordan Tannahill
Directed by Shayok Misha Chowdhury
Peter Jay Sharp Theater at Playwrights Horizons
May 30, 2025
Production website
💉💉💉 out of 5.

First off, this play really has a P.R. challenge with its name.  Even the users at the theatre were reluctant to incant the word Faggot.  Perhaps that was the goal of the production.  BUT it is going to make it more challenging for the public.  The premise of the story is based on the pre-adolescent pictures of the gay/transexual cast of Prince Faggot.  They project these pictures at the top of the show and note that even in those very young pictures it was clear that they were gay.  Then they quickly bring up a very cute, effeminate photo of Prince George.  This leads them to speculate – only speculate – “what if we had a gay king”. How would that change things?

Irishtown
Written by Ciara Elizabeth Smyth
Directed by Nicola Murphy Dubey
Irish Repertory Theatre
May 24, 2025
Production website
💉💉💉 out of 5.

The premise of Irishtown is built on a company of actors charged with putting on a play that is “Irish” enough for a theater company from Dublin to take to the New York stage.  This new play by Ciara Elizabeth Smyth takes us behind the scenes (ala Noises Off) of a company preparing as they struggle with a new script that no one likes – –  let alone understands – –  let alone finds the least bit Irish – – and finally abandons – – – 

Lunar Eclipse
Written by Donald Margulies
Directed by Kate Whoriskey
Irene Diamond Stage/The Pershing Square Signature Center
May 21, 2025
Production website
💉💉💉 out of 5.

Lunar Eclipse is essentially a 90-minute one-act play in which two actors bring out the lawn chairs and spend the night watching a lunar eclipse and reflecting on their long-married relationship.  As the moon goes through its various stages the characters go through their hopes, losses, and lives together.  This is a world premiere of Donald Margulies’ most recent play and captures themes of both optimism and despair.