The Stars Shine Bright Under The Moon

Fun Fact: The immensely talented Terrence McNally is a 2019 recipient of the Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in theatre, in addition to the Dramatists Guild Lifetime Achievement Award and the Lucille Lortel Lifetime Achievement Award. 

Target Audience: This play is for the dreamers and the sceptics of life, it is a beautiful look at the human soul. 

Best Bit: Michael Shannon is pure power - he depicts a dirty stray dog you want to pick up, protect and love.

Morning After Effect:I could listen to Clair de Lune on repeat all day, every day!  

The lights are dim as we hear grunts and moans from the gyrating silhouettes in a modest New York apartment. They are Frankie and Johnny, played by the great Audra McDonald and Michael Shannon. We meet them, perhaps in their most vulnerable state, naked. However, as the lights get brighter we get to know them on a far more intimate level as they tackle the longing for love and the fear of true connection. One might describe these characters created by playwright Terrence McNally as average folk, complacent with the cards life has dealt and living through the motions as they near fifty. However, McDonald and Shannon reveal how intricate these humans are, caught up in their past mistakes, disappointments, and pain. They are no longer able to see who they were, or better yet who they hope to be.

As Frankie and Johnny cut through the seams of their simple life we see that they have surrounded themselves by protective walls but on this night, with the bright moon shining and beautiful music being played on the radio, Johnny chooses to believe that these walls can be the foundation for their home and that they are worthy of second chances - and of love. He passionately tries to convince Frankie that life can be a never-ending search for "more" and that choosing to be in the moment, truly connected is the key to eternal joy. Now, you can only imagine how Frankie feels about this grand proposal on a one-night stand - with someone she barely knows. McNally's play is genius and these stars hit every comedic beat. 

Frankie and Johnny was written in the '80s during the AIDS epidemic which caused great fear and disconnect among people, mistrust and uncertainty. In 2019, we witness a similar disconnect with devices constantly drawing us away from the present moment and encapsulating us with fear. We have forgotten to sit back and listen to the music, listen to each other. The performances in this timeless story are mesmerizing and keep you engaged every minute and Director Arin Arbus and Lighting Designer Natasha Katz perfectly capture the musicality of this script, a whirlwind journey of emotions excellently delivered. 

View our show pages for more information about Frankie and Johnny In the Clair de Lune, Broadhurst Theater.