Caleb Levin, Odin Vega, Lyla Randall in Fun Home; directed by Logan Ellis; photo by Marc J Franklin

Serious Playtime at Huntington Theater’s “Fun Home” November 14 – December 14, 2025

A serious yet playful reimagining of parental memory through surreal childhood dreams conflating with the imposition of adult reality

The winner of five Tony Awards including Best Musical, Fun Home is a beloved, groundbreaking, and soulful story of conceiving your parents by way of adult point of views. Constructed from Alison Bechdel’s best-selling graphic memoir, the musical unearths Alison through childhood, college, and adulthood as she decrypts her coming-out story, and her compounded relationship with an astute, labile, and closeted father. How have the mysteries of her father’s life shaped her own discernment of love and integration of her lesbian identity? With a lofty score by Jeanine Tesori and a terse, emotionally charged book by Lisa Kron, Fun Home is a mesmerizing, must-see theatrical experience, directed by Logan Ellis.

Among the multifarious thematic spirits of the unfeigned theatrical biographical missive ‘Fun Home’ (inspired by the popular comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For), which is a play on words meaning ‘Funeral Home’, is a rip roaring song and dance journey into a childhood past to come out soaring into the greater understanding of present day adulthood. It explores how we perceive our parents from our childhood perspectives and how we come to understand them better through adult introspection. Through the plays’ use of the musical genre, it was able to achieve magical dreamlike moments that may have otherwise proved to be a challenge. The main characters’ understanding of her mysterious complex and brilliant father left me feeling a need to understand his obscure sense of aloofness myself. His perhaps deliberately vague characterization left me with a queer desire to learn more about his enigma, much like the way some of us feel about our own fathers.

Amidst all the adult complexities of parental woes and domestic tensions, growing up, navigating college life while discovering her budding sexuality, the main characters constant presence on stage to explain in a literal sense the multitudinal stages of her life effectively kept the audience in on her private thoughts and youthful perspectives that kept spectators engaged and invested. I, for one, was really rooting for her and symbolically rooting for my own childhood self remembering the mysteries of my own parents and homelife. “Fun Home” alleviated the tense moments of the production with a hot handyman in tight seventies short shorts, awkward first dates and sexual encounters that conceivably made some uncomfortable, albeit in a “fun” sexy way.

This play speaks to the phenomena of children wanting to understand their parents better through childhood dreamlike imaginations, wishful thinking and adult realistic reflections conflating to give us a serious study of childhood understanding of adult relationships but in a “fun” way; thus consequently that’s a five out of five stars for me!

— For more information, visit huntingtontheatre.org

First Flight 

The plane races along the runway

like a blue-eyed stag bounding step by step,

its beak raised, wings unfurled,

rising straight into the sky.

Through the window—

high-rises, trees, roads,

shrinking into toy-like shapes,

fields spreading like flat plates,

ponds boxed into tiny squares,

sheep and goats no bigger than ants.

The earth recedes behind

as the aircraft tilts its wings

to take a sudden turn—

just as we stray off a path

onto some slanting trail,

towards Fork, towards trail.

At thirty-three thousand feet

I peer downward into the haze:

black mist hides winding threads,

surely they are rivers,

holding in their flow

the innocence of our hearts.

Clouds appear—

flower-clusters, white, azure,

soft as carded cotton;

hills draped in blue veils of mist,

summits locked in embrace with drifting vapors,

and far beyond—

snow-mountains, ascetic, still,

their serenity like sages in meditation.

Overhead stretch white canopies of cloud,

and when the plane strikes them

its wings glisten, damp,

as if even the passengers’ souls

had been washed in a secret rain.

Then—enter the air hostesses,

voices honeyed,

words spilling with laughter—

smiling lips, eyes alive,

whispering through the hush of turbines,

fragrant as fresh jasmine.

At night, midair,

I glance below—

scattered glimmers blink back,

like stars shining

from the depths of earth itself.

Descending into darkness,

the city spreads in long-shot frames:

a dazzle of lights,

shimmering, blinding,

pulling you into wonder,

but also planting

an unfamiliar dread,

like a lone wayfarer on a highway

who, hearing a vehicle thunder close behind,

instinctively edges

toward the safety of the curb.

Lakshmi Kant Mukul is an Indian writer, poet, critic, rural historian and serious scholar of folk culture, born on 08 January 1973 in a rural family in Maira village, District Rohtas, Bihar province, India. His literary journey began in 1993 as a Hindi poet and since then, he has published three books in Hindi and has been published in more than two dozen anthologies and hundreds of journals. Apart from Hindi, he also writes extensively in Urdu and Bhojpuri and also translates them into English himself. His two published poetry collections are- “Lal Chonch Wale Panchhi” and “Ghis Raha Hai Dhan Ka Katora”. His published book on rural and local history is- “Yatrion Ke Najriye Mein Shahabad”.

He has received many awards for his work, including Aarambh Samman for his poetry writing in Hindi language, the prestigious Hindi Sevi Samman of Bihar Hindi Sahitya Sammelan. His English poetry has been published in many international anthologies and translated into many languages. The notable achievements of his literary career are – recognition as a farmer poet and expertise on the changes taking place in the rural environment in the global era. Having studied law, he has adopted the modern style of farming.

Postal address -LAKSHMI KANT MUKUL Village _ Maira, PO _ Saisar, SO _ Dhansoi, Buxar, Bihar [ INDIA] Mob.no._6202077236 Postcode – 802117 Email – kvimukul12111@gmail.com mob.no

It was Said

We talked about floating on a pink ship.

I will be imprisoned in the envelope of love,

I will love you with everything

My peace of mind is at home.

Jambe parv mountains will be in evidence.

Ujala is all around the heart.

The path will provide the ointment coating,

In green words green everything is positive,

Cover the words with a smile.

On the day of great impact,

I will walk and run with flowers of love.

You will be a shield in the marathon of life.

I will be the shadow companion with utmost care.

Today only words remain,

When you go away, you leave me alone.

Short biography: Amb. Dr. Priyanka Neogi from Coochbehar. She is an administrative Controller of United Nations PAF, librarian, CEO of Lio Messi International Property & Land Consultancy, international literacy worker, sports & peace promoter, dancer, singer, reciter, live telecaster, writer, editor, researcher, literary journalist, host, beauty queen, international coordinator of the Vijay Mission of Community Welfare Foundation of India.

Transient summer

The transient summer.

Restless and

weary rain are

silent and beautiful.

Deep forest near

the mountain ledge.

Unexpected rain

soundless and hazy.

The dreamy

grasses are covered with

blue light shadows

behind the mountain.

The cloudless

skies are

bright and lonely.

So beautiful was that night.

Mrinal kanti Ghosh, India He is a lyricist for All India Radio Calcutta. He has written many books of poetry, novel and short story. The names of his books are as follows: 1. Atmabairi 2.Sudhu rtis jannaya (Funded by West Bengal government) 3. jodi chole jai 4. Nairite nisarga namey 5.Ami se o somudra (novel) 6. Ekhane akash nei 7.Suranjana (English and Bengali) 8.Chayapathe saresrip bikel 9.Bideshi kobita (transcription of poetry in English and Bengali) 10.Dhupchaya nir 11.Nirjan sayanhey joytshna 12. Shely 1. Bangladesh award 2.Certificate from different countries. He has given certificate. He is a musician. He plays guitar (Indian classical). His other two books are under process. He is also an Astrologer, He believes in Astrology. He also believes in Rebirth/Regeneration. The poet also wrote a rtist poetry on Rebirth/Regeneration. His other book is going to be published on Rebirth/Regeneration.

DREAMS FOR LOVE ———

Under the moonlight, our hearts interlace,

The stars above gently shine,

Your gentle caress, a heavenly affection,

Two spirits united, for eternity,

A murmur in the darkness we understand,

United in this realm of fantasies,

Your eyes, they gleam, a holy coast,

In your arms, I listen to the currents

That plea to us, a passion so genuine,

Your kiss, a vow, radiant and pure,

In each instant, I adore you

You understand me deeply.

About the Author: Dr. Brajesh Kumar Gupta, also known as “Mewadev,” has been recognized on several prestigious platforms for his contributions to literature and the arts. Notably, the state of Birland commemorated him with a special edition postage stamp. He is the recipient of the Presidency of the International Prize De Finibus Terrae (IV edition), awarded in memory of Maria Monteduro in Italy. Dr. Gupta has been honoured with an honorary Doctorate of Literature (Doctor Honoris Causa) by both The Institute of the European Roma Studies and Research into Crimes Against Humanity and International Law in Belgrade, Republic of Serbia, and the Brazil International Council CONIPA and ITMUT Institute.

In addition to his literary achievements, Dr. Gupta was awarded the Uttar Pradesh Gaurav Samman in 2019, further solidifying his impact on regional and international platforms. Currently, he holds the position of the 3rd Secretary-General of the World Union of Poets, serving from December 30, 2017, through December 31, 2024. His role in this organization is pivotal, reflecting his commitment to advancing the global literary community. Dr. Gupta is an accomplished author of eight books and the editor of twenty-seven volumes, showcasing his extensive contribution to literary scholarship. Beyond his literary pursuits, he serves as the principal of S.K. Mahavidyalaya, Jaitpur, Mahoba (U.P.), and resides in Banda, Uttar Pradesh, India. For further engagement, he can be reached via his social media profiles at facebook.com/brajeshg1, or through email at dr.mewadevrain@gmail.com. His work and legacy are also featured on www.mewadev.com.

UNKNOWN DEAD

It’s turning..

within the galleries of thought

a visitor of ideas

ignorant, rejected…

Pain relief

dreamcatcher

And there his eyes

they sparkle every night

and they look alike

like two moons

who embrace

the night’s lament…

His shadow is bending.

leaning on old patience

and tries step by step

to walk remembering

the names of the dead…

It turns

and turns over

black chairs

small black tables,

gives a slap to the face

the darkness of a fleeting loneliness

He turns around restlessly,

tired,

very hurt

from the tornado of

moments of life..

He sleeps with the light of desire lit,

and that’s when he feels

how the forms of the dead

approaching the moonlight

reciting immortal verses

Resurrected, she smiles now

Hope in souls!

Petros Kyriakou Veloudas was born in Agrinio in 1977. He holds a degree in humanities from the Department of Greek Culture of the Hellenic Open University of Patras and is a businessman and preschool teacher by profession. He is the European ambassador of Greek poetry in Romania, an academic poet at the AMCL Academy of Poetry and Philology in Brazil. Member of the international poetry societies WORLD SOCIETY OF POETS-WSP, WRITERS UNION, International Association of Greek writers-DEEL.

His literary-poetic work is included in the Great Encyclopedia of Modern Greek Writers HARI PATSI, as well as in many Greek and international poetry anthologies, he has won 57 international poetry awards and his poems have been translated into many languages. Poems are read on Chilean radio stations. His lyrics were set to music by Greek composers and his songs are posted on Youtube. His poems have been published in local newspapers of Agrinio such as (MACHITIS, AGGELIA, PALMOS).

Being and Non-being

Is existence corporeal or incorporeal?

Does existence precede

Or succeed essence?

Existentialist Sartre says –

” Existence precedes essence “.

Then,the existence of my departed soul

Reasonably irrelevant.

If truth is temporal,and relative

Then,in the context of life and existence

Why would it be relevant?

“Sensory experience is the basis

Of knowledge that finds truth”

As said the Empiricists Berkeley

And others.

Hearing this my passe wife cried

As she is inevitably irrelevant now!

Similarly irrelevant spiritual values

And moral categories – humanity,

Nobility and honesty,

The forms of truth, goodness and beauty.

But life and the world practically exist

In the overall standard of truth,

Goodness, and beauty,where

Youth and past-youth emerge

As the shape of aesthetic feelings

In the context of generosity.

It is only a variation in the feeling;

A particular feeling of existentialism

In the same essence, my lover

In fact, remains truly existent.

Therefore, even in this old age,

I love my wife.

Brief Biography: Shikdar Mohammed Kibriah from Bangladesh, is a globally published, awarded and translated world-renowned poet, versatile writer, translator, editor, peace ambassador and philosopher. He is the president of the Poetry and Literature World Vision. His published books so far 21 on poetry, prose and story. He is the editor of encyclopedic anthology volumes World Contemporary Poets. He is published in world reputed anthologies, magazines, newspapers, journals, channels, TV and radio, and translated in 55 languages of the world. He is featured and awarded as a Global Poet, Elite Diamond Writer, Golden Eagle, White Eagle, Golden Heart, World best personality etc.