A fabulous play which is so real. When two people get close there is conflict, push and pull, fear and pain. So often in drama this becomes such a cliche but here it is masterfully treated. Gritty, real, painful and behind it a luminous and beautiful sense of a growing love between these men. It is also beautifully proportioned with an ending which uses the lightest of touches and is pure perfection. The literary reference is also nice. It is there but without any clumsiness.

Satta has crafted a gorgeous piece about love, loss, and how trauma shapes who we are. As Ben and Ray connect, the audience learns of the clever and well-utilized history of both characters. A sweet and tender piece that is a gift for actors and audiences alike.

BEN AND RAY is such a heartfelt, clear-eyed, emotionally grounded look at two gay men trying to make a connection despite their shared trauma that you almost don't notice what the precise, marvelously surprising nature of that trauma is. (Hint: imagine the full names "Ben" and "Ray" night derive from.) Satta's work here is lovely - brutal and lyrical all at once - and a gift for actors.