Like Father

by Jason Tseng

FULL LENGTH: A queer contemporary adaptation of Oedipus Rex:

Joe asks his old friend, Tyrese--a former drag queen who is slowly losing his vision--to help run the Provincetown Inn that Joe and his late husband purchased before his death. The calm of the cape is disrupted when Eddie arrives, ostensibly looking for work, but bearing a secret past that threatens to disrupt Joe's carefully manicured present.

FULL LENGTH: A queer contemporary adaptation of Oedipus Rex:

Joe asks his old friend, Tyrese--a former drag queen who is slowly losing his vision--to help run the Provincetown Inn that Joe and his late husband purchased before his death. The calm of the cape is disrupted when Eddie arrives, ostensibly looking for work, but bearing a secret past that threatens to disrupt Joe's carefully manicured present.

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Like Father

Recommended by

  • Nick Malakhow: Like Father

    I loved this queer subversion/explosion of the Oedipus myth. There are plenty of recognizable characters, relationships, and tropes from the source material, but the story has also clearly been transformed into a whole other being. Tseng utilizes the myth to explore a host of intriguing and nuanced themes like stewardship/legacy within the gay male community, the processing of adoption and its connection to identity, and bereavement/letting go/moving on. At the same time, Tseng honors Oedipus with a healthy dose of tragedy, fate, and familial cycles. The ending sequence (last 20 pages) was...

    I loved this queer subversion/explosion of the Oedipus myth. There are plenty of recognizable characters, relationships, and tropes from the source material, but the story has also clearly been transformed into a whole other being. Tseng utilizes the myth to explore a host of intriguing and nuanced themes like stewardship/legacy within the gay male community, the processing of adoption and its connection to identity, and bereavement/letting go/moving on. At the same time, Tseng honors Oedipus with a healthy dose of tragedy, fate, and familial cycles. The ending sequence (last 20 pages) was spectacular, and left me breathless.

  • Kari Bentley-Quinn: Like Father

    This play is an absolutely fantastic adaptation of Oedipus Rex. It is queer focused and highly theatrical, with moments that make you gasp and cringe (in the best way). Jason has a real command of this narrative, and does not look away from the intensity of the subject matter. It has stayed with me.

    This play is an absolutely fantastic adaptation of Oedipus Rex. It is queer focused and highly theatrical, with moments that make you gasp and cringe (in the best way). Jason has a real command of this narrative, and does not look away from the intensity of the subject matter. It has stayed with me.

  • Jonathan Alexandratos: Like Father

    Jason Tseng has mastered the art of blending tropes from the Ancient Greek source material with aspects of their own cultures (Asian, American, Asian American, Queer). What results is a delightful retelling of a classic story. While there have been other adaptations of Oedipus, there haven't been any like this. It's blunt, never shying away from intensity and meaning. Each character is drawn specifically, using notes of their original counterparts, but plenty all their own, too. This play also has so many wonderfully theatrical elements that it demands to be produced immediately! I can't...

    Jason Tseng has mastered the art of blending tropes from the Ancient Greek source material with aspects of their own cultures (Asian, American, Asian American, Queer). What results is a delightful retelling of a classic story. While there have been other adaptations of Oedipus, there haven't been any like this. It's blunt, never shying away from intensity and meaning. Each character is drawn specifically, using notes of their original counterparts, but plenty all their own, too. This play also has so many wonderfully theatrical elements that it demands to be produced immediately! I can't wait to see it!

Character Information

  • Joe
    Character Age
    40s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    White
    Character Gender Identity
    Cisgender Male
  • Tyrese
    Must be able to do drag and lipsynch
    Character Age
    55
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    African American / Black
    Character Gender Identity
    Male,
    Man,
    Femme,
    Non-binary
  • Eddie
    Character Age
    23
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Half-Asian (Korean),
    Mixed
    Character Gender Identity
    Man,
    Cis Man
  • Mary
    Character Age
    40
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    korean american,
    Asian American
    Character Gender Identity
    Cis Woman,
    woman,
    Female
  • Lyle
    may also play the roles of HANDSOME STRANGER and FATHER
    Character Age
    47
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Male

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization Judson Arts Wednesdays, Year 2018