Susan Granger’s review of “Prince Faggot” (Off-Broadway/Peter Jay Sharp Theater at Playwrights Horizons)
Although many plays that open in Manhattan make the transition to London’s West End, Jordan Tannahill’s audacious “Prince Faggot” hasn’t a chance.
In the prologue, the cast’s six performers debate the appropriateness of the play’s premise – namely, the concept “queer prognostication,” since they’ve personally experienced how indications of homosexuality are present from an early age.
So let’s pretend it’s 2032, when an 18 year-old Oxford student called ‘Tips’ (John McCrea) brings his boyfriend, Dev Chatterjee (Mihir Kumar), home to meet his parents. That might not be noteworthy – but ‘Tips’ is Prince George of Wales, oldest child of Prince William (K. Todd Freeman) and Princess Catherine (Rachel Crowl). Their ‘home’ is Anmer Hall in Norfolk.
“You know what your parents are thinking?” Dev murmurs, referring to his South Asian ethnicity, “We’ve got another Meghan.”
Obviously, Dev’s race is the least of their concerns. So an emergency meeting is convened to discuss the ramifications of the inevitable scandal.
“Our job is to serve, not to make spectacles of ourselves,” intones William. “With capes and crowns and motorcades, not to make a spectacle?” chortles Tip’s sister Charlotte (N’yumi Allure Stewart).
Problem is: according to their communications secretary Jacqueline Davies (David Greenspan), a compromising photograph of the couple has already been posted: “We can control the story, or they can.”
And so it goes…with performers often breaking the fourth wall to reveal personal revelations about their own experiences regarding race and sexuality – without differentiating between fiction and fact.
While Canadian playwright Jordan Tannahill presents a provocative, hedonistic fantasy, Prince George’s angst really revolves around a complicated pattern of familial pain and loneliness. Which is why – at times – the gay/trans/nonbinary ensemble’s disarmingly personal monologues are more riveting then the speculative trials & tribulations of the monarchy.
Director Shayok Misha Chowdhury deftly utilizes David Zinn’s scenic design, Montana Levi Blanco’s relatable costumes and Isabella Byrd’s fluid lighting.
Previous ventures into this territory include Mike Bartlett’s “King Charles III” (on Broadway in 2016) and Matthew Lopez’s Prime Video 2023 rom-com “Red, White and Royal Blue.”
FYI: Audience members are required to relinquish cellphones to Yondr pouches to prevent taking photographs.
Extended through August 3, “Prince Faggot,” co-produced with Soho Rep, is at Playwrights Horizons’ Peter Jay Sharp Theater, 416 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Aves…www.playwrightshorizons.org.