Review: & SONS at Luna Stage-A Bold and Compelling Must-See Play  

“The three of us are going to build this town all over again.” by Dom in & Sons

Luna Stage is now presenting the outstanding World Premiere of & Sons, smartly written by Jack Angelo Cummings and superbly directed by Matt Monaco.  It will run through May 10th at the West Orange theatre.  & Sons is the winner of the Kirk Prize for Best New Play, and the honor is well-deserved for this bold, moving and entertaining work. Once again, Luna Stage is presenting a compelling, socially relevant show for metro area audiences.

Set in New Jersey, the play tells of DiSanti & Sons construction company headed by family patriarch, Bob DiSanti until his sudden death.  For years, projects were done by Bob, his son, Dom and a trusted worker, Juan. When Bob’s elder son, Anthony comes back from Los Angeles for his father’s wake, he plans to take charge of DiSanti and Sons. Anthony deems that he has the right of “patriarchy.” Personal and professional conflicts rise quickly pitting Dom, Anthony and Juan against each other, threatening the future of their relationships and risking the company.

The cast is ideal to bring Jack Angelo Cummings’ play to life.  The troupe includes Carlos Andrickson as Juan; Adam Kaster as Anthony; and Grayson Richmond as Dom.  They do a terrific job of capturing the distinctive personalities of their characters. The play includes dramatic and humorous scenes such as the three men talking outside Bob’s wake; Dom providing lunch selections at the work site; Dom and Anthony reminiscing as they throw a football; Anthony insisting that he secured a good construction contract; Anthony telling Dom about his romantic life in LA; and Juan’s emotional phone conversation with his mother.

& Sons is a bold, candid portrayal of men’s responsibilities, their sense of brotherhood, and personal aspirations. Playwright, Jack Angelo Cummings stated, “The play is partially inspired by my experience working in residential construction around Essex County, during the pandemic. On a deeper level, & Sons is inspired by the emotional struggles of men I have been close with and men I’ve known in passing; especially younger men who experience a failure to launch.”

The Creative Team has done a top job of creating an authentic setting.  You will feel as though you have entered a construction site.  The Team includes scenic design by Lucas Pinner; sound design by Irene Wang; associate sound design by Gage Baker; lighting design by Zachary Connell; and costume design by Deborah Caney. Production Stage Management is by Brielle Morris; Assistant Stage Manager is Griffin O’Connor; Stage Combat by Rick Sordelet; Audio Engineer is Chris Mallari; Sound Board Operator is Hannah Starr; Wardrobe Supervisor is Drew Eldridge; and Substitute Stage Manager is Jackie Mariani.

We applaud Luna Stage's Artistic Director, Ari Laura Kreith and her team for their commitment to excellent theatre that addresses our current issues.  Gather your group to see & Sons.  The play is a great conversation starter!

& Sons will be performed through May 10, 2026. The show has a run time of 90 minutes with no intermission. Luna Stage is located at 555 Valley Road, West Orange, NJ  07052. Performances are Thursdays at 7:30, Fridays at 8:00, Saturdays at 8:00 and Sundays at 3:00. Tickets and more information are available at www.lunastage.org. As part of Luna’s commitment to equity and access, all tickets are Pay-What-You-Choose.

Photo Credit: Stephanie Gamba

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