The Inheritance

By: Matthew López

Narrated by: Bradley James Tejeda, Israel Erron Ford, August Gray Gall, Miguel Pinzon, Eddie Lopez, Jay Donnell, Kasey Mahaffy, Avi Roque, Adam Kantor, Juan Castano, Bill Brochtrup, Tuc Watkins, Tantoo Cardinal, Eric Flores

Length: 5 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's Summary

Considered “perhaps the most important American play of this century” by The Daily Telegraph, the Tony Award-winning Best Play has arrived on Audible. Based on Howards End by E.M. Forster, The Inheritance takes place in New York City decades after the AIDS epidemic. Eric Glass is a political activist engaged to his writer boyfriend, Toby Darling. When two strangers enter their lives—an older man and a younger one—their futures suddenly become uncertain as they begin to chart divergent paths. In this epic examination of survival, healing, and class divide, three generations of gay men attempt to forge a future for themselves amid a turbulent and changing America.

The Tony Award-winning Best Play

©2023 Matthew Lopez (P)2023 AO Media LLC

The definitive performance. Bring your tissues.

The Inheritance is one of the best American plays ever written, a sprawling, episodic drama series in play form that will have deep resonance with the LGBT world, and to anyone processing the loss of a loved one. But at over 6 hours over two nights, it was hard to recommend and hard for people to see (not to mention expensive). The production at Los Angeles' Geffen Playhouse, which featured a new, realistically diverse cast (it does take place in NYC) and the same gorgeous minimalist staging of its COVID-truncated Broadway run, was considered by many critics to be the definitive version. I saw it twice. Both nights. It left a deep mark on me. I was a little heartbroken that its run was so short, or I would've gladly seen it a third time.

I was elated to hear that Audible was preserving this production in audiobook form. While normally plays would lose quite a bit in this format, The Inheritance emerges nearly intact, as its action is largely narrated by its characters. (The lack of physicality also cuts over an hour from its running time.) And I am so grateful to hear these characters again. From Juan Castano's brash, needy, overcompensating Toby, to Adam Kantor's gentle, unassuming Eric, to Bill Brochtrup's reassuring E.M. Forster and his closed off Walter. Special attention must be paid to Bradley James Tejeda in a double role as both ambitious young actor Adam and shut down sex worker Leo. In a work filled with superlative performances, this is one I utterly fell in love with. While some characters keep the staginess of their stage performance, Tejeda adjusts seamlessly to the more subtle performance demanded of a recording booth. He is one to watch.

This play moved me deeply. It reminded me of all of the dear friends I'd lost, and made me refocus on how I want to live out the rest of my life, what's important to me, and most importantly, who is important to me. I'll be grateful to everyone involved in its telling for the rest of my days.

Amazing. Mesmerizing.

It took me a second to realize that the narrators’ dialogue was mingled in with the story the first few minutes. Binged this book in a single day. Looking forward to listening to it again to jot down some of the powerful quotes I missed at the beginning.

Emotionally expansive & powerful!

A sweeping, multi generational, intricate and layered narrative on gay life in a less-than-accepting world.

Excellence in Theatre

I have nothing bad to say about this piece. Matthew Lopez is a brialliant storyteller. Each character in Inheritance is beautifully realized and brilliantly performed by its talented cast. Its equal parts heartbreaking and hopeful. The sequence where Trumps America is compared to an HIV infected body is particularly eloquent. I cannot recommend checking this one out enough. You wont regret it.

Amazingly funny and realistic

It grabbed me at first bc it was hilarious and then it got steamy and then it got reeeal
It’s a really great play/story.

Finished in one sitting

Absolutely beautiful story performed by an extraordinary cast, congratulations to everyone involved! Recently finished the Great Believers and very happy I came across this play so soon after.

I lost track of who was who, but didn't care!

Unbelievably witty, sad, truth telling of the bravest & most devastating time for gay men.

Beautiful

I am so glad a recording exists of this extraordinary play. I enjoyed listening to it immensely.

it was a wonderous story

it had happy and sad moments but the actors should be well thanked for a perfect play and walter henry eric it has taste

Powerful truth needs told &retold.

I thought I knew the story they didn’t know it so intimately. I would love to see this as a play. I hope it comes to Oregon.

The Inheritance

😭😭😭😭😭

Wonderful!
Characters that are so well formed that I forgot they were fictional! I've met these characters before - I've known their many faces.
This story is so raw, so real, so heart wrenching, yet also so beautiful.
Narration is excellent too.

The best play I’ve heard

Six hours wasn’t long enough with these characters and this narrative. A truly emotional, educational and entertaining piece of work.

Heartbreakingly beautiful and brilliant!

As one of my mostly loved plays & most unforgettable theatre experience, “The Inheritance” always takes a soft spot in my heart. I’m so glad this play is now available in audio form! This production is performed by the cast of Geffen Playhouse’s 2022 revival, and it’s brilliant. Thanks for bringing this play back to me!