The Last Castrato

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 A Gender-Bending Tale of Musical Intrigue



“…this remarkable and thrilling play…”

“…the witty language sparkle[s] with Wildean innuendo…”

“…one of those uncommon plays that doesn’t just tell the story of a man, but manages to explore the universe of his feelings.”

“…extraordinarily ambitious in its construction. Glass has woven a complex narrative with overlapping plots that evoke the intrigue of the Vatican in the early 20th c. At the same time, it’s a deep look at the human cost of art and the fact that castrati were alternately adored and vilified, loved and spurned for a condition they had not chosen but had been forced upon them. A rare ‘full meal’ of a play.”
[Stuart Spencer, author of The Playwright’s Guidebook]


The Last Castrato tells the story of Alessandro Moreschi, the last of that unique, almost forgotten group --the castrati-- who were damaged at a young age by forces beyond their control.  The play is set at a Vatican that has been uneasily thrust into the twentieth century, as Moreschi becomes the only member of his line to preserve his voice for the newly-invented phonograph.  Through his personal journey, as he battles bureaucracy, homophobia, and raw political ambition, he grapples with his sexual identity to find out who he really is.  Told with humor and passion, The Last Castrato is a celebration of the triumph of the human spirit over oppression.


Production History

Connelly Theater, New York, 16 performances from November 12 through December 4, 2010

The Reviews are in!!!

   NYTheatre.com               Parterre.com             Backstage.com              Curtainup.com

   Edge New York          Talk Entertainment        The Leonard Link Blog

   BroadwayStars.com (about 1/3 down on the page)       CitysBest.com


   Broad Street Review            



May 10, 2010, staged reading at Hudson Guild Theater, New York

January 28, 2010, staged reading at Judson Church, New York

November 15, 2008, staged reading in New Moon Reading Series, Luna Stage, Montclair, New Jersey.

All of the above directed by John Henry Davis.


Licensing Information

Synopsis of the play

Cast list

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