This June, Philadelphia Theatre Company Obie Award-winning Artistic Director Taibi Magar directs the world premiere of Roger Q. Mason’s (they/them) “The Duat,” presented in 360-degrees of theatre in the round for PTC’s 2023-24 season finale. All seating will be onstage for the performance featuring Barrymore Award nominee and Philadelphia native Frank X. Viewers will have a uniquely intimate experience transitioning through the Egyptian underworld inside one man’s battle to save his soul.
The world debut of Mason’s psychological self-exploration represents their introduction to the Philadelphia region. The Duat concludes Mason’s three-production national tour featuring LGBTQ themes, including the world premiere of The Pride of Lions (Theatre Rhinoceros/ San Francisco, CA) from March 28 to April 21 and Lavender Men (About Face Theatre/ Chicago, IL) from May 9 to June 8.
With its captivating blend of dance, music, and soul-stirring language, the play promises to have a thrilling effect on the audience. – Tyler Dobrowsky, PTC’s artistic director
The funerary texts of the ancient Egyptian underworld, found in the tombs of mummies, are believed to lead the deceased through the afterlife or Duat. Duat is described as the place where human hearts are weighed on the scales of Anubis, God of Funerary Rites, Protector of Graves, and Guide to the Underworld, against the feather of Ma’at, Goddess of Truth, Justice, Balance, and Order. Those with hearts that don’t equal the feather’s weight have their souls eaten by the Goddess Ammit, Devourer of the Dead, and their hearts are eaten by a lion. Those with unburdened hearts as light as a feather proceed to the next life.
The Duat begins when student turned FBI counterintelligence officer Cornelius Johnson (Frank X) finds himself deceased and dwelling in purgatory with a burdened heart. As Cornelius’ heart is weighed against the feather and feeling terrified of his heavy heart and its consequences, he tries to finesse the deity with distorted accounts of collected memories. Cornelius embarks on a forensic journey of his life under the watchful energy of Osiris, the God of Fertility, Agriculture, the Afterlife, the Dead, Resurrection, Life, and Vegetation. Wielding an unflinchingly honest reflection of Cornelius’ most authentic beliefs, Osiris’ ominous existence admonishes him to unpack his purpose and intention as Cornelius struggles to understand what the unburdening entails. Through examining soul-penetrating encounters with a high school teacher, a lover, a clandestine stranger, and ultimately, the Egyptian Sun God Ra, Cornelius enters a consciousness of self-acceptance. Each layer of his discovery is expressed through spoken word, North African drumming, and gorgeous choreography in a poetic and virtuosic story of redemption, finding, and earning self-love.
If You Go:
Runtime: 90 minutes with no intermission.
Single tickets start at $20 and are available online by calling 215.985.0420 and at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre box office.
- Previews begin Friday, June 7
- Opening night on Wednesday, June 12
- Closing Sunday, June 23
- Educator’s Night on Friday, June 7
- Black Theatre Night on Thursday, June 13
- Post-show talkback Sunday, June 16
- Open caption performance on Saturday, June 22. A complete schedule of performances can be found at philatheatreco.org.