Prayer for the French Republic

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Prayer for the French Republic
Written by Joshua Harmon
Date premiered2022
Place premiered Manhattan Theatre Club
Original languageEnglish
SubjectGenerational trauma
GenreDrama

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. [1] [2] [3] [4] The play won the 2022 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play.

Contents

Plot

In 2016, an American student Molly decides to visit her family in France to find her roots and tries to connect with her distant cousin Marcelle. Marcelle's son 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 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

CharacterOff-BroadwayBroadway
20222024
2016-2017
Marcelle Salomon Benhamou Betsy Aidem
Charles Benhamou Jeff Seymour Nael Nacer
Elodie Benhamou Francis Benhamou
Daniel BenhamouYair Ben-Dor Aria Shahghasemi
Patrick SalomonRichard Topol Anthony Edwards
Molly Molly Ranson
Pierre SalomonPierre Epstein Richard Masur
1944-1946
Irma SalomonNancy Robinette
Adolphe Salomon Kenneth Tigar Daniel Oreskes
Lucien SalomonAri Brand
Young Pierre SalomonPeyton LuskEthan Haberfield

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. The Off-Broadway and Broadway productions were directed by David Cromer. [6]

Awards and nominations

2022 Off-Broadway production

YearAwardCategoryNomineeResult
2022 Lucille Lortel Awards Outstanding PlayNominated
Outstanding Director David Cromer Nominated
Outstanding Featured Performer in a Play Betsy Aidem Nominated
Francis Benhamou Won
Drama League Awards Outstanding Production of a PlayNominated
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 RobinetteNominated
Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Play Won
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play Francis Benhamou Won
Outstanding Lighting Design for a Play Amith ChandrashakerWon
Artios Awards New York Theatre - Comedy or DramaKelly GillespieNominated
Off Broadway Alliance AwardsOutstanding New PlayNominated
Theatre World Awards Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut PerformanceYair Ben-DorHonoree

2024 Broadway production

YearAwardCategoryNomineeResult
2024
Drama League Awards Outstanding Production of a PlayNominated
Distinguished Performance Betsy Aidem Nominated
Tony Awards Best Play Nominated
Best Actress in a Play Betsy Aidem Nominated
Best Lighting Design in a Play Amith ChandrashakerNominated

References

  1. Green, Jesse (January 10, 2024). "Review: For Jews, an Unanswered 'Prayer for the French Republic'". New York Times.
  2. "The Huntington's 'Prayer for the French Republic' is a theatrical blessing". wbur. September 15, 2023.
  3. "Broadway's 'Prayer For The French Republic' Casts Anthony Edwards, Aria Shahghasemi & More". Deadline. August 15, 2023.
  4. "She'd never played a Jewish character before. Then, a hit play about antisemitism came along". Forward. December 18, 2023.
  5. Paulson, Michael (June 2023). "'Prayer for the French Republic' Transferring to Broadway". New York Times.
  6. Shaw, Helen (January 11, 2024). "An Uneven "Prayer for the French Republic" Comes to Broadway". The New Yorker.