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Initiative Opens at the Public to Strong Early Reviews for Its Five-Hour D&D-Fueled Epic

Early notices highlight a standout ensemble, with questions about the marathon scale.

Overview

  • The Public Theater world premiere, directed by Emma Rosa Went, opened Nov. 20 in New York and runs through Dec. 7.
  • A BroadwayWorld roundup reports broadly positive reaction with an average rating of 90%, though some reviews cite length and structural choices.
  • The play uses Dungeons & Dragons as its emotional spine, intercutting game sessions with real-life drama, with gameplay comprising roughly one-fifth of the runtime.
  • Immersive staging deploys lighting, sound, projections, costumes, and fight and intimacy direction to visualize fantasy action and early-2000s digital culture.
  • Playwright Else Went draws on her own adolescence, with critics noting sensitive material and themes including explicit sexual content, assault, and family opioid addiction.