By Matthew Wexler
A pop singer and her bodyguard (The Bodyguard), a prominent executive and her assistant (The Proposal), and now a chart-topping rapper and his translator join the ranks of romances in the cultural zeitgeist, where power dynamics give way to wayward glances and sneaky hand-holding. The last example, Duke & Roya, offers a more complex narrative, though, luring audiences into the world of war-torn Afghanistan circa 2016.
Playwright Charles Randolph-Wright and director Warren Adams owe much of the play’s success to its two charismatic stars: Jay Ellis (Top Gun: Maverick) as the flirtatious and cocky rapper Duke, and Stephanie Nur (Paramount+’s Lioness, Season 1) as his uptight translator Roya.
Duke has arrived on a military base to perform for the troops, where Roya’s father (Dariash Kashani) oversees interpreter services. A sneaky trip off-base and a terrorist bombing land Duke in the hospital, provoking his high-powered mother (Noma Dumezweni) to enter the scene.
The play’s momentum offers few surprises until an arranged trip to Dubai delivers an unexpected consummation. But Randolph-Wright’s real narrative gift is his ability to unearth what it means to not only love another, but love one’s country and oneself.
Referencing James Baldwin and Rumi as a literary bridge between the two worlds, it’s easy to forget that the playwright also has a way with words. In speaking about her country’s perception of war, Roya says, “You go to war. War comes to us.”—a palpable message given recent developments in the Middle East.
Wilson Chin’s sparse but thoughtful scenic design, framed by crumbling concrete pillars, provides a taut canvas for Amina Alexander’s lighting and Taylor J. Williams’ explosive soundscape. With producer backing from Hollywood heavyweights like John Legend and Kerry Washington, Duke & Roya looks as fantastic as its star-crossed lovers.
Duke & Roya plays at the Lucille Lortel Theatre through August 23.
‘Duke & Roya’ takeaway
Duke and Roya find a connection through literature. Who knows? Maybe your next great lover will also have a passion for Baldwin and/or Rumi. Get a head start with one of these summer reads:
