Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – In GOOD TIME CHARLIE, Ryan J. Haddad expands the thematic scope of his patented autobiographical storytelling

• By drediman
• October 11, 2026
• No Comments

Earlier this week, Ryan J. Haddad’s latest creation Good Time Charlie opened Off-Broadway at The Public Theater. In short, the piece is Haddad’s most ambitious work to date. Up until this point, the actor/playwright has been best known to theatergoers for penning and starring in autobiographical one man shows, primarily candidly chronicling his Sex and the City-esque escapades as a gay man with cerebral palsy in The Big Apple. Although he’s occasionally delved into and expounded on his relationship with his family, his latest work significantly expands the thematic scope of his storytelling, paralleling his own coming out tale and career breakout in the theater world with the story of his gay uncle Charlie, who had to sacrifice much of his life in order for gay men of Haddad’s generation to thrive.

The end result is a of hybrid between Haddad’s solo memoirs and Matthew López’s Tony-winning gay saga The Inheritance — albeit with far less histrionic melodrama, thankfully — a sort of meta-theatrical playground that melds confessional, memory play, and elements of musical theater. It’s a genuine and ultimately moving monument to a generation of gay men who have shaped a community’s identity and lifestyle aesthetic, as well as a meditation on aging and care-giving. Indeed, Good Time Charlie shows a more mature and selfless side to Haddad, whose previous theatrical efforts have been more self-focused. That being said, Haddad manages to maintain his unique voice and wry persona — while injecting his performance with newfound vulnerability — within a larger constellation of viewpoints, namely that of his uncle Charlie, played with poignancy and dignity by Jonathan Raviv.

The play has been directed by Danny Sharron with warmth and a careful eye for its shifting moods. The play’s somewhat unruly structure is reflected in the set — courtesy of Afsoon Pajoufar — which successfully sets out to replicate his uncle’s elaborate yet erratically-designed backyard garden on the Martinson Hall stage. Generously performed by a sturdy cast, Good Time Charlie goes down as easily and heartily as comfort food. The production also features the effectively shape-shifting duo Nael Nacer and Artemis Pebdani as as both Ryan and Charlie’s parents, as well as Tim Bagley, who gives a steady and affecting performance as Charlie’s partner Lou. But perhaps the most memorable of the supporting performances belong to Michael Cristofer and Beth Malone, whose turns as a culture-drunk, curmudgeonly mentor and Haddad’s big-hearted lesbian aunt, respectively, ooze authenticity.

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GOOD TIME CHARLIE
Off-Broadway, Play
The Public Theater
2 hours, 15 minutes (including an intermission)
Through October 25