André Gregory & Wallace Shawn: Theater Legends' Latest Triumph

André Gregory, 92, and Wallace Shawn, 82, are enjoying a career peak with their current play, "What We Did Before Our Moth Days." The production, directed by Gregory and penned by Shawn, is showing at the Greenwich House Theater until May 24. This collaboration earned them the New York Drama Critics' Circle's lifetime achievement award.

Their enduring partnership is also famously marked by the 1981 cult classic film "My Dinner with André." The film, which sees the lifelong friends reuniting and discussing life's big questions, has influenced Shawn's latest theatrical work. "Moth Days" features extended monologues, mirroring the philosophical depth of the iconic movie.

Shawn describes "Moth Days" as a response to Donald Trump's political milieu, emphasizing human tenderness and fragility as a counterpoint to perceived brutality. The play, which runs for three-and-a-half hours, explores themes of tragedy, romance, and existential reflection through individual soliloquies. Despite its length, the production has resonated with a surprisingly young audience, drawing laughter and engagement.

Gregory, who had not directed in over a decade, was drawn back to the stage by Shawn. Their collaboration dates back to the 1970s. Reflecting on "My Dinner with André," Gregory noted its prescient themes of fascism, while Shawn found seeing his cinematic self to be a "bizarre" and "disturbing" experience.