‘We Had a World’ review — a family drama with heartache and humor
Read our review of We Had a World off Broadway, the newest play by Tony Award nominee Joshua Harmon, presented by Manhattan Theatre Club through April 27.
“There is no straight line to telling this story,” says Joshua, the protagonist of Joshua Harmon’s We Had a World. The world-premiere, autobiographical memory play mirrors this sentiment with its nonlinear structure, as Joshua (Andrew Barth Feldman) shifts back and forth through time to chronicle his family's troubles. We Had a World offers a fresh take on the family drama genre, with an inventive structure, surprising humor, and a story that tugs heartstrings.
The three-hander begins with Joshua’s dying grandmother (played with verve by Joanna Gleason) asking Joshua to make his next play about their family. The center of the tension is the grandmother’s struggle with alcoholism. And while there is no drinking on stage, alcoholism is present as its own sort of character, fraying the intergenerational relationships.
The trio of actors in this circle of trauma are wonderful together. Feldman is both wry and raw as Joshua, capturing the shift in his relationship with his grandmother when he learns more about how her drinking impacted his mother’s life.
Jeanine Serralles takes audiences on a wild emotional rollercoaster as Ellen, Joshua’s nurturing mother. She’s torn between giving her son the opportunity to connect with his grandmother and pulling away to protect herself. Serralles volleys between scenes of emotional breakdowns and putting on a thick New York accent to portray her father in one scene.
The play’s humor primarily comes from Gleason, who delivers some of the play's best one-liners, such as her deadpan response to Joshua’s news that he’s seeing someone: “Is he circumcised?” The laughs also come from her unconventional attempts to introduce her grandson to art and culture, including taking him to a Robert Mapplethorpe exhibit and showing him Dances with Wolves before he was 10.
Tonally, the play dances between comedy and tragedy, with the family matriarch’s battle with the bottle leading the way. Director Trip Cullman navigates this balance with scenes of tearful outbursts working alongside humorous bits. In some scenes, though, the dance feels out of step. And for audience members with alcoholics in the family tree, the play’s comedic treatment may come across as off-putting.
We Had a World summary
Joshua Harmon’s memory play We Had a World kicks off with a request from the protagonist’s dying grandmother: to write a play about the family’s entanglements and “make it as bitter and vitriolic as possible.” What follows is a tender and, yes, bitter portrayal of a family — particularly how the grandmother’s decades-long battle with alcoholism shaped her relationship with her daughter and grandson.
The protagonist, a stand-in for Harmon, must navigate his love for his grandmother, the woman who inspired him to become a playwright, while also caring for his mother, who seeks protection from the rest of the family.
What to expect at We Had a World
The set for We Had a World, designed by John Lee Beatty, is a dynamic playground of props. The smattering of furniture forms the shape of Joshua’s dorm room and his grandmother’s living room, with a pair of green silk high-back chairs. On stage, however, they’re two different chairs, with swatches of green silk pinned to the sides, as if the play within the play is still in progress, waiting for a final decision on the color. It’s an imaginative portal of a memory play taking shape.
We Had a World contains themes of alcohol abuse, and it runs 100 minutes without an intermission.
What audiences are saying about We Had a World
On Show-Score, the audience review aggregator site, We Had a World has an audience approval rating of 85% as of publication. Theatregoers are praising the performances and the writing.
- “A deeply moving, intelligent, relevant, autobiographical family play by one of the best playwrights today, Joshua Harmon. The ensemble of three actors is superb - each of them is amazing. Directing is perfect. There is not one false note in that performance and it is so touching, genuine, entertaining, funny and sad. It is impossible not to be in awe from the experience.” - ShowScore user DIANA 6161
- “Another dysfunctional family play? Have we been there too many times? Not by a long shot, especially when the tale is told as slyly and brilliantly as it is here. The actors are so good, you believe they are the actual members of Joshua Harmon's family. Director Trip Cullman has another winner.” - ShowScore user James 7298
- “I don't think I could have loved this show more. Three powerhouse performances, sharp dialogue, and so much to say (and not say). Run to see this one.” - ShowScore user Funathan Groff
Read more audience reviews of We Had a World on Show-Score.
Who should see We Had a World
- Fans of Joshua Harmon, whose other works include Bad Jews, Significant Other, Admissions, Skintight, and Prayer for the French Republic, should see his latest work.
- Theatregoers who enjoy multigenerational family dramas will find We Had a World up their alley.
- Audiences who appreciate sharp, dark humor will appreciate that in this play.
Learn more about We Had a World
We Had a World takes audiences on a journey through the playwright’s family history, blending humor and heartache as he reflects on his relationships with his mother and grandmother.
Photo credit: We Had a World off Broadway. (Photos by Jeremy Daniel)
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