Duke & Roya

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Duke & Roya is an engrossing rom-com with a geo-political background, the sort of story that Hollywood specialized in during World War II. Charles Randolph-Wright’s new play makes use of the war in Afghanistan in 2017 before the American pull out in 2020. The cast is led by television stars Jay Ellis (James in Insecure) and Stephanie Nur (Aalyiyah in Lioness) who prove to be engaging company. The cast is filled out by veteran stage performers Dariush Kashani (The Kite Runner, The Band’s Visit, Oslo) and Noma Dumezweni who created the part of Hermione in both the London and Broadway versions of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, winning the Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Duke & Roya uses the classic device of two opposites attracting from differing cultures. Duke, an African American hip-hop recording star goes to Bagram Air Force Base, in Kabul, to entertain the troops. He is assigned Roya, a female Afghan interpreter, a remarkable young woman who is also working underground to help educate her country’s women. Total opposites, they are fascinated by each other, he is used to women throwing themselves at him, she is used to arranged marriages and no interaction between men and women. His arrogance and conceit fascinates her; her humility and limited experience is totally new for him. She impresses him with all the research she has done on him and his career and he keeps her off balance with his modesty and curiosity.

Although they are restricted to remaining on the base, Duke insists that Roya take him into Kabul to buy lapis lazuli, though Roya must dress up as a man in order to accompany him. Their adventure turns out to be more than they bargained for and Duke’s mother, Desiree, a lawyer who is a Vice President with the World Bank, arrives to see how her son has survived his ordeal and meets Roya’s father Sayeed, her immediate boss. The Americans have to return to their previous lives while Duke and Roya pine for each other across the world.

In the second act, publicity surrounding Duke’s Kabul visit has caused the sales of this latest album to be a huge success, even bigger than his first album. Desiree has pulled strings to get Roya and Sayeed to meet them in Dubai where she often has to go for meetings. While the meeting is joyous, Duke is surprised that Roya does not want to make their relationship permanent or abandon her country. Roya’s involvement as interpreter in a possible terrorist case and her having taken part in Duke’s adventure off-base get her into trouble. This may keep her father from getting his visa to go to America, something neither Duke nor Desiree has been able to accomplish. While Duke’s new song lyrics in his next few albums reference Roya and his Afghan visit, they – and we – hope they will meet again.

While Randolph-Wright’s play is appealing as far as it goes, it is a little weak on the politics, stronger on the unconventional romance. At the Bagram Base, both Duke and Roya behave as though there is no war on although they are aware of the dangers of not following the rules for their own protection. We are never told how Desiree is able to get Roya and Sayeed to Dubai. The case against Roya concerning the possible terrorist is dropped unceremoniously and without closure. However, as used as background, the differences in the American and Afghan cultures are quite novel and compelling. Director Warren Adams’ light touch goes a long way towards making us care about the characters and their trials.

Like Ellis’ role on Insecure, he is both brash and conflicted. Here he knows he is a child of privilege and college educated yet impersonating a gangsta rapper. Utterly seductive yet self-effacing with Roya, Ellis has an engaging stage personality. Nur is equally charming as she attempts to hide her personal life while revealing her past in bits and pieces. Brought up in the Afghan tradition, Roya is a modern woman who knows what she wants but fears in her culture she will never get it. However, she is aware of the advantages she has had working at the Bagram base, which will probably end when the Americans pull out.

Sophisticated, elegant, cultured and wise, Dumezweni makes Desiree a fascinating character who knows her son better than he knows himself. Dressed by Sanowber Sabrina Spanta in a series of chic creations, she steals every scene she is in as the knowing and experienced diplomat that she is. Long divorced the relationship that develops between her and Roya’s father is at first surprising, then part of the east-meets-west plot. Given less to do, Kashani as Sayeed fills in his character as a man ruled by old-fashioned traditions who can see the value of new ideas. He evokes great sympathy as someone caught up in the volatile world situation.

Wilson Chin’s set design in two parts is very successful: the first act for the Bagram Air Force Base is a grey hall lined with pillars, many ceiling fans and industrial furniture, while the second act’s luxury hotel scenes are lavish and eye filling. Both acts are appropriately lit by Amina Alexander, first in the shadowy light of an air force base and then with the bright light of first class hotels. Ronvé O’Daniel’s music and lyrics for Duke’s rap numbers are completely convincing and add to his character’s resumé.

Charles Randolph-Wright’s Duke & Roya is an accomplished rom-com with an exotic setting. Best known as a theater director, Randolph-Wright has a fine ear for dialogue as well as an ability to deftly fill in characterizations. While it dilutes the current events aspects of the story which might be best left to a photo montage, it is very successful with the romance of two opposites. Making their Off Broadway debuts, Jay Ellis and Stephanie Nur are not only excellent performers but also charming company. Noma Dumezweni with her precise speech and perfect timing would be an asset to any play, while Dariush Kashani gives able support as the loving but disapproving father. Duke & Roya is both entertaining and appealing as an unpredictable romance in a war-torn country.

Duke & Roya (through August 23, 2025)

Lucille Lortel Theatre, 121 Christopher Street, in Manhattan

For tickets, visit http://www.dukeandroya.com

Running time: two hours and 15 minutes including one intermission