The Heart Sellers at Studio Theatre Wins Over Critics

Lloyd Suh's The Heart Sellers is earning enthusiastic praise from DC area critics in its run at Studio Theatre, with reviewers highlighting the production's emotional depth, stellar performances, and relevant exploration of the immigrant experience.

The Heart Sellers at Studio Theatre

The intimate two-hander, directed by Studio Theatre's Associate Artistic Director Danilo Gambini, tells the story of Luna and Jane, two immigrant women who meet by chance at a supermarket on Thanksgiving 1973 and forge an unexpected connection over frozen turkey and wine in Luna's modest apartment.

Raves from Local Critics
DC Theater Arts delivered an enthusiastic review, describing how Suh "blends nutty sweetness and aching loneliness into a balletic whole." The reviewer praised Gambini's "perfectly paced" direction and highlighted the performances of Francesca Fernandez (Luna) and Jeena Yi (Jane) as "two splendid actresses who pirouette flawlessly throughout this one-act drama, fleshing out their characters with heartwarming hilarity and depth."

The review particularly noted a powerful monologue in which Luna transforms the Hart-Celler Act—the 1965 immigration law that enabled their presence in America—into what the piece calls "a cruel irony," explaining how immigrants must give up ties to their homeland to assimilate. As Luna puts it, everything they used to be "crumbles and tumbles" in this new world, forcing them to become "heart sellers."

Maryland Theatre Guide called the production "a wild and still deeply poignant journey," praising Suh as "a master manipulator of the heartstrings" who takes audiences through "laughter, heartbreak, helplessness, and that sense of empowerment just bubbling beneath the surface."

The reviewer highlighted the chemistry between the leads, noting that "Fernandez shines" with a performance where "her jouissance brilliantly slips in and out of pain, self-reflection, and bittersweet regret." Yi's portrayal of Jane was described as "the palpable beating heart playing off of Luna's energy in quiet yet powerful ways," with special mention of her final line delivery that gave the reviewer "goosebumps."

BroadwayWorld characterized the show as "philosophically rich and hilariously moving" and "a beautiful homage to a generation of immigrants." The review praised both actresses for their nuanced work, noting that "despite their differences in personality, Luna and Jane are living parallel lives which is well displayed in Fernandez and Yi's acting."

The reviewer appreciated how Suh focuses on revealing the women's lives "through their imaginative dreams, off-the-cuff jokes, and reactions to the still frozen turkey," creating a show that "is funny in a way that elevates Luna and Jane's growing friendship, but also makes the weight of serious moments that much heavier."
Washington City Paper offered thoughtful context about the production's timeliness, noting how "Suh's play—with all its tenderness and yearning for human connection" addresses the immigrant experience with nuance. The review praised Gambini's use of Studio's intimate Milton Theatre, observing how the staging allows audiences to sense both the characters' initial isolation and their growing connection as they "put on comfortable 'home clothes'" and their "hold on their little piece of this country grows stronger."

While most critics embraced the production, The Washington Post struck a more reserved note. In The Washington Post, reviewer Naveen Kumar calls the play “oftentimes pleasantly amusing and occasionally even touching”, but ultimately admits he was left “ambivalent.” He writes that the play “left me strangely cold,” noting that while the production captures the texture of the 1970s setting—“meticulous, vintage detail by set designer Marcelo Martínez García” —the portrayal of Luna and Jane is too accentuated toward “hyperattentive” and “childlike” otherness. For example, he critiques that their dialogue often “meanders through non sequiturs,” and that the accentuation of their foreignness “holds us at a distance.”

Across reviews, critics consistently lauded the production's design elements. Scenic designer Marcelo Martínez García's recreation of a 1970s apartment, complete with avocado, orange, and turquoise décor and crocheted blankets, earned special mention. DC Theater Arts noted how these blankets function "almost as supporting characters," shielding the women from "a cold and alien world."

Lighting designer Minjoo Kim, sound designer Liam Bellman-Sharpe, and costume designer Helen Q. Huang also received praise for their contributions to creating an authentic 1970s atmosphere that serves the story's emotional journey.

The Heart Sellers runs through November 2, 2025, at Studio Theatre's Milton Theatre, located at 1501 14th Street NW. The 90-minute production runs without intermission.