Luce Critics’ Reviews
When a teacher makes an alarming discovery about Luce, an all-star high school student, his parents are forced to reckon with their idealized image of their son, adopted years ago from a war-torn African country.
When a teacher makes an alarming discovery about Luce, an all-star high school student, his parents are forced to reckon with their idealized image of their son, adopted years ago from a war-torn African country.
What Is the Story of Luce?
Luce tells the story of Amy and Peter, two suburban, middle-class parents who are shocked to discover that their 17-year-old son Luce could be in some real trouble at school. Usually a model student and star football player, Luce has something disconcerting in his locker, and his teacher warns his parents that their son's education could hang in the balance. His parents, not sure what to do, try to keep it a secret from their son, because Luce isn’t exactly an ordinary kid—adopted from the Congo as a child, he’s become a local superstar despite his rocky upbringing. But when Luce discovers his parents are hiding a secret from him and begins to act out, Amy and Peter must decide whether to trust their own son or his teacher.
"Since Facebook is name-checked in at least two major scenes, it seems only fitting to conclude that 'Luce' gets a 'Like.'"
Entertainment Weekly
Jason Clark
"The whole cast is on point, especially the charismatic Okieriete Onaodowan."
New York Daily News
Joe Dziemianowicz
"Star student, sociopath or a little of each? That is the troublesome question raised in 'Luce,' a thoughtful, well-acted new play by JC Lee."
The New York Times
Charles Isherwood