5 out of 5 stars

Ryan J. Haddad’s solo play, “Hold Me in the Water” is a witty, tender tribute to first love, but from an often-overlooked perspective. In the autobiographical show, Haddad -- a queer, disabled man who uses a mobility device on stage and off -- giddily describes the unique chemistry he found with a beau and his surprise at having his access needs seen and met. Just as critical: The production was created with open and integrated access in mind, including the use of captions, audio descriptions and more. In short, this is theater at its best: personal yet wholly universal. — Justin McCallum

At Playwrights Horizons, through May 4, 2025; phnyc.org. (Review date: April 26, 2025)