Not So Musical Monday: Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune
Spoiler alert: The following review contains mild spoilers for Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune, which is currently running on Broadway.
Last night was the Tony Awards, but as theater keeps going, what better place to start this morning than with the first show to open for the new season—Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune. I wanted to see the show for one primary reason: the two-person cast. I will dive into just how accomplished Audra McDonald and Michael Shannon are a little deeper, but those were two names on a marquee that I would want to see in a play just about regardless of what the play was. They didn’t disappoint. Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune is a fine reprisal of a play. It’s a funny play, though not a particularly impactful one, but it is a play worth seeing to see if you want to see two phenomenal actors practice their craft.
Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune is a play about two coworkers on a one-night stand dealing with how they feel about each other. It’s also about a one-night stand where the man refuses to leave afterwards despite the woman’s protesting because he professes his undying love for her. It’s a premise that could be terrifying or uncomfortable, but due to playwright Terrence McNally’s writing, Frankie keeps her agency throughout and doesn’t feel like a victim in any way. The play has several funny lines and situations that tend to work more successfully than the play’s more dramatic moments. The thing that really made what could’ve been a rather indifferent experience enjoyable was the chemistry between and performances of the two leads.
Ms. McDonald has won more Tony Awards for acting than any other person in theater history and is the only person to win a Tony Award for all four acting categories—both leading and featured actress in a play and musical. Simply put Ms. McDonald is a goddess of theater, which feels about the most apt way to describe her. Mr. Shannon might not have as many theater credits as Ms. McDonald, but he is a talented actor with an incredibly diverse career. Mr. Shannon is a two-time Oscar nominated actor and has done everything from receive critical praise for his performance the Eminem rap movie 8 Mile to being Superman’s nemesis in the comic book blockbuster Man of Steel.
I think it’s important to lay out just how impressive these two actors are because it came as no surprise that they were exceptional in this. I don’t think it was the most interestingly written play nor do I think their characters were particularly exceptional. This play was just two talented actors giving emotion, humor, and tenderness to each line and moment. I don’t think this play will go down as the most heralded performance of either of their respective careers. Rather, they were able to elevate the characters that I didn’t particularly care for into interesting, three dimensional characters. It was top notch acting.
I’m sure the understudies chosen for the play are talented performers in their own right, but this play feels like maybe it has always been designed to showcase top notch talent. The original Off-Broadway staging in the late 80’s featured Kathy Bates and F. Murray Abraham. The previous Broadway staging in 2002 starred Edie Falco and Stanley Tucci. Every time this play is staged it features absolutely top notch performers.
When looking back at this play in the future, I don’t think I’ll remember many specifics of the plot nor the staging. If I had to guess, I’ll be thankful for having finally seen Audra McDonald on stage and nearly as thankful that she was given such a talented costar. To see these two actors, it’s a show worth seeing.