The Dramatic Life of Jonah Penrose

Set in the London theater world, Green’s middling debut opens with the title character winning an Olivier Award for his lead performance as Achilles in the musical The Wooden Horse. Life should be grand for Jonah Penrose, but it’s not. His boyfriend, Edward, dumps him for someone else; his father has Alzheimer’s and his mother is drinking heavily; and Dexter Ellis, who originated the role of Achilles before the show’s West End debut, is rejoining the cast in a different part. Dexter is obnoxious to Jonah, pretending not to know him in a yoga class and giving him notes on his performance. When Dexter and Jonah’s onstage chemistry sparks fan speculation about their relationship, they are asked to fake date to goose the show’s box office numbers. Jonah feels “a weird sense of attraction” toward Dexter, but that doesn’t dispel the jealousy and mistrust between them—especially when Jonah fears Dexter is going to replace him as Achilles. Green’s detailed depiction of the theater world holds some interest, but it’s difficult to fully invest in the slow-moving, stop and start romance between the men. It’s a case of an appealing premise that falls flat in execution. (Nov.)