4 out of 5 stars

Its story may be rooted partly in today’s hip-hop scene and partly in the strife-filled country that is Afghanistan of the past decade, but Charles Randolph-Wright’s “Duke & Roya” is a play with an old-fashioned quality. At heart, it’s a romantic tale between a rapper and an Afghan woman who works as a U.S. military translator. But political and cultural intrigue mixes with the love story in almost a “Casablanca”-like fashion. The result? A drama that’s telling and engaging, even if it’s longer than it needs to be. Add in a stellar cast and you have the summer’s theatrical surprise. — Charles Passy

At the Lucille Lortel Theatre, through Aug. 23, 2025; dukeandroya.com. (Review date: June 28, 2025)