| Prayer for the French Republic | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Joshua Harmon |
| Date premiered | 2022 |
| Place premiered | Manhattan Theatre Club |
| Original language | English |
| Subject | Generational trauma |
| Genre | drama |
Prayer for the French Republic is a 2022 play by Joshua Harmon. It centers on a Jewish family living in France as they struggle with their identity due to rising tensions from anti-Semitic attacks. The play touches on topics such as Zionism and fascism.[1][2][3][4] The play won the 2022 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play.
Plot
In 2016, an American student Molly decides to visit her family in France to find her roots and tries to connect with her aunt Marcelle. Molly's cousin is the victim of an anti-Semitic attack, causing Marcelle's husband Charles who immigrated from Algeria to decide to move to Israel. This earns the dismay of Marcelle's anti-Zionist brother Patrick, as Marine Le Pen's rise in mainstream French politics continues. The play's second story explores how Marcelle and Patrick's great-grandparents suffered loss during the Holocaust in the 1940s.
Casts
| Character | Off-Broadway | Broadway |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2024 | |
| Marcelle Salomon Benhamou | Betsy Aidem | |
| Elodie Benhamou | Francis Benhamou | |
| Molly | Molly Ranson | |
| Lucien Salomon | Ari Brand | |
| Patrick Salomon | Richard Topol | Anthony Edwards |
| Charles Benhamou | Jeff Seymour | Nael Nacer |
Production history
The first production premiered at the Manhattan Theatre Club in New York City on January 11, 2022, and extended for two weeks. The cast featured Betsy Aidem, Yair Ben-Dor, Francis Benhamou, Ari Brand, Pierre Epstein, Peyton Lusk, Molly Ranson, Nancy Robinette, Jeff Seymour, Kenneth Tigar, and Richard Topol.
The Broadway production began previews on December 19, 2023 and officially opened on January 9, 2024.[5] It starred much of the off-Broadway cast alongside Anthony Edwards as Patrick.
Awards and nominations
- 2022 Drama Desk Awards
- Outstanding Play - Won
- Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play (Francis Benhamou) - Won
- Outstanding Lighting Design for a Play - Won
References
- ↑ "Review: For Jews, an Unanswered 'Prayer for the French Republic'". New York Times.
- ↑ "The Huntington's 'Prayer for the French Republic' is a theatrical blessing". wbur.
- ↑ "Broadway's 'Prayer For The French Republic' Casts Anthony Edwards, Aria Shahghasemi & More". Deadline.
- ↑ "She'd never played a Jewish character before. Then, a hit play about antisemitism came along". Foward.
- ↑ "'Prayer for the French Republic' Transferring to Broadway". New York Times.