Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune

Streaming April 21 to 25, 2021

PLAYBILL (PDF)

MetroStage is continuing to pay tribute to Terrence McNally and is pleased to be presenting a reading of his iconic play Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune. A playwright considered “one of our most original and audacious dramatists”(New Yorker), McNally died of complications from Covid-19 just one year ago.

We are inviting you to spend the night with Frankie and Johnny in her one room walk-up apartment in New York City as these two decide whether this may be more than a 'one-night stand'. Meet two characters both with a past, living on the fringe, and working to uncover the 'nature of love'.

Originally produced off-Broadway in 1987 starring Kathy Bates and F. Murray Abraham, and on Broadway in 2002 with Edie Falco and Stanley Tucci, these are two dream roles for actors. Most recently on Broadway in 2019, it starred Audra McDonald and Michael Shannon. This reading features Veronica del Cerro and Michael Kevin Darnall (last seen 10 years ago in the MetroStage production of Savage in Limbo) with a special appearance by Robert Aubry Davis as the radio announcer.

“I'm so fortunate to have shared my life with Terrence and to have his words to comfort and inspire me. I'm very touched and honored that you are doing Terrence's work. With enormous gratitude--Tom” A note to director Stefan Sittig from Tom Kirdahy, Terrence McNally’s husband and a Broadway producer (notably Hadestown and McNally’s Mothers and Sons)

MDTheatreGuide.com “McNally has a way of capturing the human condition…The acting is first rate. Del Cerro’s Frankie is awkward with her own sexuality and has trouble revealing her innermost self….Darnall is so likable from the outset that we just want him to succeed in capturing Frankie’s heart. He counters del Cerro’s caution with enthusiasm and joy. Even in a streaming format, his eyes tell us so much….Despite the fact that they are not in the same location, both actors manage to create intimacy and desire without ever touching. They capture our hearts and make us look into our own souls and relationships. The script is rich in little subtleties, which the two actors deftly underscore for us.”

A Fresh Look at ‘Frankie & Johnny’ from MetroStage (DCMetroTheaterArts.com)

American Theatre Artists Online podcast with Frankie & Johnny actors Verónica del Cerro and Michael Kevin Darnall