Brooklyn Laundry

Brooklyn Laundry
Manhattan Theatre Club
NY City Center Stage I
February 15, 2024 

Photo courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club

Manhattan Theatre Club is presenting John Patrick Shanley’s new play, Brooklyn Laundry.  The premise is intriguing, the characters are truthful, and the plot has a few surprise twists.  The play has many honest moments that will touch your heart and endear the characters to you.  The cast is wonderful.  Mr. Shanley has directed this play himself.  It is tender and straight forward. 

Fran (played by Cecily Strong) meets Owen (played by David Zayas) when she drops off her laundry.  The regular girl quit, so Owen, who own three laundromats, is working the front desk.  He sees something in Fran, beyond her “gloomy” disposition, and asks her out.  She accepts, but cannot go until she returns from an out of town commitment.  Fran keeps the details of this commitment from Owen when she goes on their date.  She wants him to see her in a positive light, and not as she is, weighed down by her family sorrow.  Fran’s sister is dying and leaving two small children behind.  Owen carries the weight of his past as well.  Fran supports him, and is hoping he will be able to do the same. 

David Zayas & Cecily Strong
Photo courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club

Cecily Strong delivers a solid performance as Fran.  This is a complex character, yearning for happiness while drowning in hopelessness.  Her rhythms and timing are impeccable.  She has a phenomenal chemistry with David Zayas.  Their connection is genuine and visceral.  Mr. Zayas’ character emotionally opens and reaches out to Fran (Cecily Strong), then plunges into fear and darkness.  It then becomes her turn to open up and reach out. 

Florencia Lozano and Andrea Syglowski play Fran’s sisters, Trish and Suzie.  These two characters are polar opposites, giving Ms. Strong much to play off.  It is in these scenes that she dives in and fully develops her character.  These relationships reveal the intertwining layers that develop over a lifetime of hardship and connection. 

Brooklyn Laundry is playing at NY City Center Stage I through March 31.  Check it out.  

Domenick Danza