Premiere Stages, the professional Equity theatre in residence at Kean University, is pleased to recognize CATARACT by Dominic Finocchiaro as a Semi-Finalist for the 2022 Premiere Play Festival. CATARACT rose through a competitive selection process conducted by Premiere staff and a panel of outside theatre professionals to become one of 35 semifinalists out of 655 submissions. The panel was particularly impressed by the depiction of toxic masculinity and intersectionality through subtle yet vivid characters. Our congratulations and thanks to Dominic.

A breath taking piece of work isolating the nature of friendship over time, the way we react to the most insidious of relationships, and the dark turns of masculinity in the presence of fear and weakness. This play provides a timely portrait of the decay of the human moral compass, just how far the deep fear of loneliness and desire for status quo can push a person, and how deeply that hurts the most vulnerable among us.

An unsettling examination of problematic men, systems, and structures--all the more astute/unsettling given how deftly rendered with fine brushstrokes they are here. What information is withheld from us and when it is revealed is carefully calculated. It hammers home how toxic masculinity and abusive behavior survives not just because of the perpetrators who so brazenly hurt others, but because of the male followers and status quo upholders who refuse to rock the boat in fear of implicating both others and themselves. Charlie's rationalization of it all was particularly disturbing and impactful. Daniel's pain and complicity felt sick and accurate.