Daddy

Daddy is playing at the Signature Theatre located at 480 West 42nd Street. It runs two hours firtyfive minutes with two intermissions. The play closes on March 31, 2019.

Alan Cumming won a Tony Award in 1998 for Cabaret.

Charlayne Woodward was nominated for a Tony Award in 1978 for Ain’t Misbehavin.

The time is now in Bel Air, Los Angeles California.

There is a pool in front of the first row of the audience, behind that are lounge chairs. The windows are floor length so that we see into the house. We see two large paintings.

Franklin (Ronald Peet) is a young black artist. He has a show of his work coming to a gallery soon. He is at Andre (Alan Cumming) house. Andre is an older white man who is a collector of art.

Franklin emerges from the pool. Andre gushes all over him. They have sex. Franklin moves in and calls Andrew Daddy. The relationship grows.

Max (Tommy Dorfram) and Bellamy (Kahyun Kim) visit their friend Franklin often. They lavish on his rich life style.

His mother Zora (Charlayne Woodard) keeps calling him but he won’t pick up. One time she is in the pool calling him. She’s at her home.

Alessia (Hari Nef) is the owner of the gallery his works will be at. It turns out his works are small black dolls. She is thrilled the new ones are more exciting. She comments Andre must be a good inspiration.

Zora comes to her sons opening. Andre insists she stay with them at his house. She is a God fearing woman. She makes quotes from the bible. Zora is not thrilled about her son and Andre!

The opening of the show is a big success. Franklin starts making life size dolls of his mother, Andre and himself. His mother’s presence is making him unravel. He is sucking his thumb and he is trembling. We learn what may cause it when she tells Andre about Franklin’s father. He didn’t want the baby and she leaves him. When Franklin is older he appears and wants to see him and she refuses saying some nasty things which Franklin heard.

Beware there is nudity (Ronald and Alan) and if you are in the front row you will he hit with water when they splash in the pool.

It’s a bit long but interesting. It makes you think. I won’t tell you what you may have a different interpretation.

The cast does an outstanding performance.

Three gospel singers Denise Mannig, Omyie Nwachukwu and Carrie Compere appear on stage in different locations on stage if there not doing something .They are invisible till the sing gospel music.

Review by Rozanna Radakovich.

Photos by Anazor.

To read a candid interview with the cast, scroll down to the left for photos. Click on photos for this and other shows.