Prince Faggot Review: Bold & Brilliant Off Broadway Play
Royal Role Reimagined: “Prince Faggot” Explores Sexuality, identity
Jordan Tannahill’s “Prince Faggot,” now playing at playwrights Horizons in collaboration with Soho Rep, envisions a future where Prince George, son of Prince William and Princess Kate, is gay. The play, unlikely to be staged in the United Kingdom, delves into themes of childhood desire and challenges assumptions about children’s sexuality.
The production blends fantasy and reality,intertwining a speculative future with the personal histories of its gay and trans actors. This meta-theatrical approach places it alongside other thought-provoking works of the season, such as Bess Wohl’s “Liberation,” Branden Jacobs-jenkins’ “purpose,” and Emil Weinstein’s “Becoming Eve.”
Tannahill addresses the real-life connection, clarifying through a character that the play is “not his story, only he can write that for himself. This is our story.”
John McCrea portrays Prince George, with K. Todd freeman and Rachel Crowl as his supportive parents, William and Kate. David Greenspan takes on dual roles, including a scene-stealing turn as the royal family’s publicist.
The play explores the royal family’s reaction to George’s coming out and his relationship with his non-white boyfriend, played by Mihir Kumar. The parents’ primary concern revolves around George’s earlier disclosure to a palace butler, also played by Greenspan.
The play shares thematic ground with the Netflix documentary ”Harry & Meghan,” notably regarding privacy and celebrity. Though, Tannahill avoids portraying his characters as victims.
The fictional Prince George, as portrayed by McCrea, is a complex character navigating the pressures of the press and royal expectations. The play includes simulated sex scenes,exploring the prince’s interest in S&M within the context of royal ritual.
N’yomi Allure Stewart plays Princess charlotte, while Prince Louis is absent from the narrative. Stewart delivers a speech about being a princess at a New York City drag ball, adding depth to the royal drama.
Shayok Misha Chowdhury directs, creating both glamour and pathos on a small stage, supported by the design team of David Zinn (sets), Montana levi Blanco (costumes), Isabella Byrd (lighting), and Lee Kinney (sound and original music).
What’s next
Future performances are scheduled at Playwrights Horizons, with continued discussion expected regarding the play’s themes of identity, privacy, and the role of the modern royal family.