Prayer for the French Republic
| 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 dramatic stage play by American playwright 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[edit]
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.
Cast[edit]
| Character | Off-Broadway | Broadway |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2024 | |
| 2016-2017 | ||
| Marcelle Salomon Benhamou | Betsy Aidem | |
| Charles Benhamou | Jeff Seymour | Nael Nacer |
| Elodie Benhamou | Francis Benhamou | |
| Daniel Benhamou | Yair Ben-Dor | Aria Shahghasemi |
| Patrick Salomon | Richard Topol | Anthony Edwards |
| Molly | Molly Ranson | |
| Pierre Salomon | Pierre Epstein | Richard Masur |
| 1944-1946 | ||
| Irma Salomon | Nancy Robinette | |
| Adolphe Salomon | Kenneth Tigar | Daniel Oreskes |
| Lucien Salomon | Ari Brand | |
| Young Pierre Salomon | Peyton Lusk | Ethan Haberfield |
Production history[edit]
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. The Off-Broadway and Broadway productions were directed by David Cromer.[6]
Awards and nominations[edit]
2022 Off-Broadway Production[edit]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Lucille Lortel Awards | Outstanding Play | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Director | David Cromer | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Featured Performer in a Play | Betsy Aidem | Nominated | ||
| Francis Benhamou | Won | |||
| Drama League Awards | Outstanding Production of a Play | Nominated | ||
| Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play | Won | ||
| Outstanding Actress in a Play | Betsy Aidem | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play | Francis Benhamou | Nominated | ||
| Nancy Robinette | Nominated | |||
| Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Play | Won | ||
| Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play | Francis Benhamou | Won | ||
| Outstanding Lighting Design for a Play | Amith Chandrashaker | Won | ||
| Artios Awards | New York Theatre - Comedy or Drama | Kelly Gillespie | Nominated | |
| Off Broadway Alliance Awards | Outstanding New Play | Nominated | ||
| Theatre World Awards | Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut Performance | Yair Ben-Dor | Honoree | |
2024 Broadway production[edit]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2024 |
Drama League Awards | Outstanding Production of a Play | Pending | |
| Distinguished Performance | Betsy Aidem | Pending | ||
References[edit]
- ^ "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". Forward.
- ^ "'Prayer for the French Republic' Transferring to Broadway". New York Times.
- ^ [1]