“Disgraced,’ by playwright, novelist, screenwriter and actor Ayad Akhtar, won the Pulitzer Prize and later moved on to Broadway where it earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Play. Throughout most of the play’s journey “Disgraced” has been directed by Kimberly Senior who is currently directing the production at the Mark Taper Forum through July 17.
“Disgraced,’ by playwright, novelist, screenwriter and actor Ayad Akhtar, won the Pulitzer Prize and later moved on to Broadway where it earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Play. Throughout most of the play’s journey “Disgraced” has been directed by Kimberly Senior who is currently directing the production at the Mark Taper Forum through July 17.
The play, set in an upscale Manhattan apartment shared by Muslim-American lawyer Amir (Hari Dhillon) and his artist wife Emily (Emily Swallow), begins in the late summer of 2011. The first two scenes introduce us to the couple. He is a Muslim apostate, doing his best to assimilate into American culture. A hard worker, determined to become an eventual partner in the law firm where he works, Amir doesn’t want to do or say anything that would ever jeopardize his career. The firm’s partners are Jewish. Amir is reluctant to intervene in any way in an upcoming case involving an imam accused of terrorist influences. Amir’s nephew, Abe, who adheres to the religion of his birth, has come several times hoping Amir will offer some legal advice that may be of help in the upcoming trial. Finally his wife, who seems far more sympathetic to all issues Muslim, convinces Amir to at least check into the case. Unfortunately things go radically awry when Amir is inadvertently quoted in a New York Times report.
As the third scene opens, Amir is visibly upset and has already had a few drinks too many prior to the arrival of their dinner guests, art curator Isaac (J. Anthony Crane) and his wife Jory (Karen Pittman), a young black lawyer on the rise who works with Amir.
As it so often happens in theatre, uncomfortable issues and subjects seem to come up in conversation over fine food and wine at what is supposed to be a convivial dinner party. Soon Isaac, a Jewish liberal with an argumentative bent, particularly after a few drinks, starts bringing up all sorts of socially taboo topics like religion, national identity, terrorism and personal allegiances. He also goads his host on issues concerning the Koran, intimating that he doesn’t have an honest interpretation of what should be his “religious” foundation. While things heat up and get ugly, the tension adds up to engrossing theater about thought-provoking issues that are deeply relevant today in view of terror attacks like the recent terrible massacre in Orlando, Florida.
The main characters represent all types of racial, ethnic and religious points of view. Amir and Abel present two versions of the Muslim perspective, while Emily, though white and Christian, is more pro Muslim them her husband. Isaac, Jewish, but totally liberal in his overview is hostile to all of Amir’s arguments, including his interpretation of the Koran, while his wife Joy can better relate to Amir since she too has struggled to overcome racial profiling.
The playwright has presented many thought provoking issues facing us today in America. While each character represents a certain group in the ensuing drama, you may be surprised to discover which side you take. For me, when the chips were down. I felt the most compassion for Amir who is beautifully rendered on stage by Hari Dhillon who created the role on Broadway.
Another plus for the actor is his precise diction and projection throughout the play. He could always be heard even when other cast members sometimes failed to project adequately to the entire audience.
“Disgraced,” at The Mark Taper Forum, downtown Los Angeles, though July 17. For tickets and information call: 213-628-2772 or online at centertheatregroup.org.
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Other theatre updates: The comedy drama “Big Sky,” about family dysfunction and misunderstandings is currently on view at the Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave., Los Angeles. Box office: (310) 208-5454.
The beautiful musical about Carole King’s music, “Beautiful” opened at the Hollywood Pantages this Frida
