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 I've never seen "Caroline, or Change," but I like the deep weirdness of the story. 


A gay white kid in New Orleans, mid-century, has a habit of leaving change in his pocket. His stepmother wants to punish him; she tells the maid, "You keep any change you find in that pocket of Noah's."

This is, of course, uncomfortable for the maid, Caroline; basically, her employer is asking her to steal from a small child. But how do you say no to your employer?

Tony Kushner can do anything he wants, and he counts Maurice Sendak among his friends, so, in "Caroline," we encounter a singing bus, a singing moon, a talking Confederate statue.

The story feels a bit like "Gypsy"; Caroline is caught in entrenched behaviors, but her daughter, rebellious Emmie, sees a way forward. Emmie is the "Change" that Kushner alludes to in the title of his work (among other types of "change").

"Caroline," and its upcoming revival, are a special treat for gay nerds: We have a gay writer (really, The *Great* Gay Writer in America), a gay lead character (Noah), and a gay star (Sharon D. Clarke, as Caroline).

I bought my tickets, and I'm ready.
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