Morgan Bassichis in "Can I Be Frank?" Photo by Emilio Madrid.
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By Matthew Wexler
You want Morgan Bassichis at your next dinner party. That is, if they’re anything like their onstage persona in Can I Be Frank?, Bassichis’ quirky, meandering, enraged, and brilliantly conceived riff on the life and impact of performance artist Frank Maya.
Unless you’re a queer of a certain age, a particular fan of New York City’s downtown theater scene, or up late-night binge-watching early 90s comedy specials, Maya may have passed you by. Not because of lack of talent, but because—like thousands of gay men before the introduction of protease inhibitors—he died too soon from AIDS-related complications.
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Bassichis’ trajectory is neither linear nor morose. Canvassing Soho Playhouse’s postage-stamp-size stage with a corded mic draped over his shoulder like Judy Garland at Carnegie Hall, Bassichis dismantles their narcissism, interacts with the audience with pre-written questions, and cuts deep, remembering the brilliant voices now lost, like Huck Snyder and Cookie Mueller.
Bassichis also weaves original material from the comedian’s solo show Frank Maya Talks, recreating the backdrop and music used in the original production that ran at La Mama in 1987. The homage to Maya’s work doesn’t land quite the same as when Bassichis speaks in their own voice. The two performers, though connected through decades of queer comedy and a love for picking apart the human condition, have different rhythms.
Morgan Bassichis in “Can I Be Frank?” Photo by Emilio Madrid.
Morgan Bassichis in “Can I Be Frank?” Photo by Emilio Madrid.
But Bassichis ultimately finds their way into Maya’s mindset with the guidance of director Sam Pinkleton, who established with Cole Escola’s Oh, Mary! the ability to sculpt cohesion out of a wildly imaginative sense of humor.
The obsession culminates in a tribute performance of Maya’s haunting compositions (he was also a gifted composer with an eerie Jonathan Larson-esque quality) and a rousing manifesto in which Bassichis outlines the multitudes of ways we can honor our queer history. In a world where so many LGBTQ+ voices continue to be silenced, we’re fortunate to have artists like Morgan Bassichis dragging these essential stories (like that absurdly long corded mic) back into the spotlight where they belong.
Can I Be Frank?plays at Soho Playhouse through September 13, 2025.
‘Can I Be Frank?’ takeaway
To further appreciate Bassichis’ interest in Frank Maya, fans can watch his original appearance at La Mama, preserved thanks to his then-boyfriend, Neil Greenberg.
Traveling to New York City? Find the best hotels near the Soho Playhouse
Matthew Wexler is an award-winning editor and writer. His work has been recognized by GLAAD and the National Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists. Matthew is a member of the American Theater Critics Association and an alum of the National Critics Institute.
