GHOSTS OF LOVE

John J. Caswell, Jr.’s moving drama
finds unexpected grace amid
fear, desire, and survival

Stephen Spinella, Ken Barnett, Jeorge Bennett Watson

As Pride Month begins, there may be no better theatrical companion than John J. Caswell, Jr.‘s moving, daring, and expansive new play. Set in the isolated Arizona backcountry town of Jerome—a virtual ghost town—it follows Con (Stephen Spinella) and Doane (Jeorge Bennett Watson), an aging gay couple celebrating 28 years together. Their life is quiet, monogamous, and intentionally removed from the noise of cities and the complications of other people. Not a bad choice considering it’s the height of the AIDS pandemic. Then, in a moment that surprises both men, they decide to open a door they had long kept closed.

Jeorge Bennett Watson, Ken Barnett, Stephen Spinella

Con suggests the idea of inviting a stranger into their lives. His partner Doane is surprised: “You’re telling me in all sincerity you finally wanna have a fuck-around with a stranger?” But Con explains, “With the right person, if it felt safe, I think I could. And maybe make a friend along the way; you never know when we might need one.” Subtext galore because Con is physically ailing—not from any complications of HIV, but simply from aging.

Ken Barnett

A stranger arrives in the form of Bruin (Ken Barnett), a man who unexpectedly finds refuge in their home, their lives, and eventually their hearts. What begins as an experiment evolves into a complicated throuple relationship, and over the course of three years—from Halloween 1992 through 1994—the play charts an unexpected journey that is surprising and deeply affecting.

Caswell’s script continually finds fresh terrain. Structurally, the piece is impressively sound, taking turns that may initially seem unexpected but ultimately feel inevitable. The setting alone offers an original perspective: three gay men navigating love, fear, commitment, and survival in a small conservative Arizona town during one of the most devastating periods in queer history. The play never settles for easy answers, allowing its characters to evolve in ways that are both frustrating and deeply human—not to mention sexual and explicit.

With humor, Act One explores the exhilaration and uncertainty of testing boundaries, following desires, and confronting the consequences that follow. Act Two descends into darker territory, filled with nightmares, confessions, reckonings, and ultimately reconciliation. Together, they create a satisfying emotional arc that earns every one of its revelations.

Ken Barnett, Stephen Spinella

As both director and set designer, Dustin Wills exercises complete artistic control, and the gamble pays off. The production has the feeling of a small-scale grand opera. His striking design of gray stone walls may not be attractive, but with the movement that follows, it is endlessly imaginative and foreboding. Wills creates a visual language that mirrors the emotional landscape of the play, and the final moment of Act One delivers a genuinely gasp-inducing theatrical coup.

Stephen Spinella, Jeorge Bennett Watson

Most importantly, the production is anchored by three exceptional performances. Spinella, Watson, and Barnett work at the very top of their craft, never allowing a false moment to creep in, landing the play’s humor with ease, and fearlessly mining its darker emotional depths. Watching the three actors build this complicated relationship over time is one of the production’s greatest pleasures, and their work gives the play its considerable heart.

Ken Barnett, Stephen Spinella, Jeorge Bennett Watson

Running approximately two hours and fifteen minutes, Jerome is a rewarding theatrical journey—one that balances intimacy with ambition, humor with heart, and romance with hard-earned wisdom. For audiences looking to celebrate Pride Month with a story that honors queer lives in all their complexity, Caswell’s remarkable play is an excellent place to start. Happy Pride.

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photos by Maria Baranova

Jerome
Playwrights Horizons
416 W. 42nd St. in New York City
2 hours and 15 minutes
ends on June 21, 2026
for tickets and information, call 212.564.1235 or visit Playwrights Horizons

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Gregory Fletcher is a writer and director. His publishing credits include a craft book on playwriting entitled Shorts and Briefs, as well as a collection entitled A Playwright’s Dozen: 13 short plays. Other publishing includes two YA novels (Other People’s Crazy, and Other People’s Drama), 2 novellas in the series Inclusive Bedtime Stories, 2 short stories in The Night Bazaar series, and five essays. Website, Facebook, Instagram.