Prodigal Son
by John Patrick Shanley

Name: Prodigal Son
Brand: John Patrick Shanley
SKU: 9780822235118
Rating: 4.16 (421 reviews)

Off-Broadway

Prodigal Son Book Cover — Prodigal Son Cover

Highlights

Small Cast

Female

Male

90 minsPresent DayStrong Role for Leading Man (Star Vehicle)Unit Set/Multiple SettingsContemporary Costumes/Street ClothesAmerican

Awards & Recognition

Drama League AwardLucille Lortel Award

Winner! 2016 Lucille Lortel Award Nominee: 2016 Drama League Award

What readers are saying

Readers are overwhelmingly impressed with the depth and emotional resonance of the play. Many find the dialogue sharp and relatable, while the character development of Jim Quinn reflects the struggles of youth. Some feel that the play might be better experienced live rather than through reading alone, but overall, it resonates deeply with audiences looking for a thoughtful exploration of adolescence.

Sharp and relatable dialogueDeep emotional resonanceCompelling character developmentSome parts felt rushed and underdeveloped

Synopsis

A 17-year-old boy from the Bronx suddenly finds himself in a private school in New Hampshire.

He’s violent, gifted, alienated, and on fire with a ferocious loneliness.

Two faculty members wrestle with the dilemma: Is the kid a star or a disaster?

A passionate, explosive portrait of a young man on the verge of salvation or destruction.

Press Reviews

"Savvy and often moving…a return to form for John Patrick Shanley…In monologue and dialogue, Shanley communicates Jim’s vast confidence and vaster insecurity, the workings of his creative mind and the fumblings of his wounded heart."
— The Guardian (US)

"A keen, passionate portrait of the author as a poetry-spouting romantic punk torn between literary dreams and his roots in the Bronx…Prodigal Son is pure, splendid Shanley: shaggily idealistic and always scratching a philosophical itch underneath jokes and banter."
— Time Out New York

"Prodigal Son is a heart-sore portrait of adolescent turmoil that bears the stamp of hard-earned truth on every scene…[it’s] the best thing that Mr. Shanley has given us since Doubt. You can’t get much better than that."
— The Wall Street Journal