Prayer for the French Republic

 Prayer for the French Republic
Manhattan Theatre Club
NY City Center Stage I
January 29, 2022 

Photo courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club

Joshua Harmon has raised the bar on excellence with his new play, Prayer for the French Republic.  The story tracks the lineage of a Jewish family in France to show how hatred and fear have been passed down through time.  His characters are victims of antisemitism and experience the political situations that cause such behavior.  The writing is multi-layered and inspired.  Large, vital themes sweep through the action, connecting the characters and relationships through the generations.  Director David Cromer keeps the action connected in this three hour play (don’t worry, it has two intermissions) that spans seventy-two years.  The skilled cast brings truthful dimension to Mr. Harmon’s compelling characters, emotionally motivating the audience to engage on their own personal journey toward awareness and self-reflection.

Francis Benhamou, Jeff Seymour, Yair Ben-Dor, & Betsy Aidem
Photo courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club

It is 2016 in Paris, France.  When Daniel (played by Yair Ben-Dor) is badly beaten on his way home from work, his mother, Marcelle (played by Betsy Aidem), blames it on his wearing his yarmulke in public.  This is not the first time this has occurred, and Marcelle believes Daniel’s wearing his yarmulke makes him a target.  His sister, Elodie (played by Francis Benhamou) holds very strong political ideals, and supports her brother on his convictions.  Daniel’s father, Charles (played by Jeff Seymour), starts to see how the aggression against Jews is accelerating in Paris, making it unsafe for his family to remain there.  He grows fearful, and decides he wants to move them to Israel. 

Nancy Robinette and Kenneth Tigar
Photo courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club

The time shifts to 1944.  We meet Irma and Adolphe Salomon (played by Nancy Robinette and Kenneth Tigar).  When a Nazi officer came to their apartment to arrest them, he was turned away by their doorman.  They safely remained in Paris throughout World War II.  Their son, Lucien (played by Ari Brand), escaped with his family to Poland, where they were arrested and placed in concentration camps.  He and his son, Pierre (played by Peyton Lusk), are the only surviving members of that family.  They return to Paris at the end of the war to unite with Irma and Adolphe.  Pierre is Marcelle’s father. 

Ari Brand, Kenneth Tigar, Nancy Robinette, & Peyton Lusk
Photo courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club

Mr. Harmon creates two important characters to keep the audience connected to this expansive story, which contains an intense amount of political information.  The character of Patrick, Marcelle’s brother (played by Richard Topol), acts as a narrator, providing detailed direct address on the lineage of the family and facts about the history of antisemitism.  Patrick is humorous in his direct address, yet antagonistic in his scenes with the family.  This is a well-balanced character, and Mr. Topol does him great justice.  Molly (played by Molly Ranson) is a distant American cousin of Marcelle.  While studying abroad in France, Marcelle invites Molly to her home in Paris to get acquainted.  Molly’s first visit is the same night Daniel is beaten.  The audience sees the brutality and political situation in Europe through her eyes.  As Molly injects herself into the struggles of this family, the audience is given the opportunity to do the same, with a shared, American point of view.  Molly is both naïve and educated, which is reflected in how her comments agitate the family’s conflicts.   

Photo courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club

The skillful way Mr. Harmon builds his characters and crafts his dialogue gives the audience opportunity for self-reflection.  Molly’s distance from her Jewish faith combined with Irma and Adolphe Salomon’s ability to silently stay under the Nazi’s radar give the audience pause to reflect on how we hide our true identities in order to survive.  Lucien’s unwillingness to share his experiences in Poland with his mother informs us as to how vital truths do not get passed down through the generations.  Within this family there is constant conflict, yet a resilient bond that keeps them united.  They pull strength from their ancestors, and gain purpose for moving forward toward survival.  The connection through the generations is profound.  This is brilliantly constructed and gives the audience a vital insight into the themes Mr. Harmon is communicating in this play.                          

The Manhattan Theatre Club production of Prayerfor the French Republic is stunning.  The cast is outstanding.  The play is simply brilliant.  It is playing at NY City Center Stage I through February 27.  Get a ticket right away!  

Domenick Danza