by 
By Mark A. Leon
McNeal by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Ayad Akhtar makes its national regional premiere in Charleston, South Carolina.
To properly examine the latest production of McNeal we must ask the audience to remove their perceptions, prejudices and subjective thoughts on the current and future state of A.I. in our current social landscape and walk into the theater with an open slate.
I will give you all a moment to close your eyes, clear your mind and begin to explore a journey of discovery without any pre-determined expectations.
Are we ready? Good.
What is McNeal?
McNeal is a new contemporary play by Pulitzer Prize Winner playwright Ayad Akhtar making its national regional debut at the Pure Theatre in Charleston, South Carolina. This production is directed with thoughtful precision by Sharon Graci (Co-Founder and Artistic & Executive Director of Pure) and stars David Whalen at Jacob McNeal and co-starring Sam Smith, Joy Vandervort-Cobb, Andrew Puckett, Journey Townsend, Sylvia Jeferies and Ryka Khanna.
At the heart of this play is the evolution of humanity and a deeper dive into the human condition as it evaluates the place artificial intelligence (A.I.) in the future of our planet and perhaps our own sanity.
- Is A.I. to be feared? Yes
- Is A.I. to be embraced? Yes
- Does A.I. make our lives easier? Yes
- Does A.I. complicate our lives introducing elements that question fact form distortion? Yes
- Do we have a way, as human, to co-exist with A.I.? Hopefully
- Will A.I. have us questioning our intellect and creative capabilities?
There it is! That last question sums up the heart of this play.
That is the journey McNeal will take you on for 90 minutes and certainly much longer as the conversation is sure to continue long after the play has concluded.
In the opening scene we learn acclaimed novelist Jacob McNeal he has just been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. Yet sometimes the view from the top isn’t always as glamorous as we hope. At this point, I could add spoilers to paint a much more visual picture of the spiraling downfall of this writer, but I won’t.
As the audience watches each scene progress, we witness a man nosediving into a blackhole of intellectualism, narcissism, metaphysical digital obsession, self-doubt and redemption and he grapples with his past, present and future.
David Whalen’s portrayal of Jacob McNeal was nothing short of exquisite. His use of verbal and non-verbal range captures the essence of a man so driven by passion and relevancy that his loses touch of the core elements of rational thought.
Still I felt a sympathetic sensitivity to this novelist.
To walk away with empathy and likability from a character who has been manipulated by his demons throughout his adult life is truly the work of a stage artist. Mr. Whalen found an inner strength in this role allowed him to express regret, anger and obsession and in the end, even find forgiveness within himself with poignant thoughtfulness and transparency.
I even found a bit of self-reflection through this character whose exposure of hidden truths and repressed memories becomes the fire the alters his future and all relationships with family, colleagues and loved ones.
Mr. Whalen’s performance could not be complete without a supporting cast who collectively played a powerful role as antagonists and influencers providing guidance and direction to McNeal.
What are the core themes of McNeal
A good play follows a clear narrative with a structured story built around strong characters. A great play leaves the audience with an assortment of interpretations, meanings and emotional connection. It explores a story but connects with its audience in varied ways.
McNeal is a great play.
With elements of gender equality, generational social behavioral norms, human creativity vs A.I., plagiarism vs originality, love vs lust, and obsession vs passion, McNeal takes you on an absolute emotional rollercoaster that continues to evolve with each scene leading to an explosive conclusion.
Director Sharon Graci and her technical team cleverly use sound, light and digital visuals to blur the line of actual life versus artificial. It is a beautiful chaos created by the production team.
This play is certainly a ride worth being on. By the end, you may even think differently about your thoughts on A.I.
How can I see this production?
McNeal will be playing at Pure Theatre through February 7, 2026. Click HERE to purchase tickets.
P.S. – No A.I. agents assisted in the writing of this review…..
Photo credit: David Mandel
Stay connected and subscribe to Charleston Daily.
