A great many politically themed plays have been produced these last few years. The best of them enmesh protagonists’ struggles, offer insight to specific viewpoints and ask questions. People of the Book adds to these qualities with distinct originality.
Lynn (Sarah McAfee) and Amir (Ramsey Zeitouneh) are artists in their thirties – she a sculptress, he a poet – who have come to at least temporary terms with low income and slow recognition. The married couple met in college. When former classmate Jason (Brian Slaten) returns from the Middle East, a veteran who has written a harrowing, bestselling book-soon-to-be-film, Lynn offers to put him up until he finds a place of his own.
Sarah McAfee (Lynn), Ramsey Zeitouneh (Amir) and Brian Slaten (Jason)
Extending hospitality is curious. 1. Lynn ignored “boring” Jason back then. 2. Amir and the nascent author were highly competitive, not the least for Lynn’s attention. (She denies being aware of this.) Lynn devoured and is impressed by the book, suddenly seeing Jason as a hero. Hunger for a champion clouds
judgment and reflects a need of our time. Amir has resisted the volume. At her insistence they go to a reading. The men snipe at one another.
A pivotal chapter in the book describes Jason’s rescue of widowed Madeeha (Haneen Arafat Murphy), an educated, English speaking Arab woman he subsequently married and is bringing to the states. Despite both having spouses, when briefly alone, Lynn blatantly flirts. Jason declares himself, lurching in for a kiss.
That night on his friends’ couch, he has vivid PTSD nightmares. The projection portion of these by Kim T. Sharp is effective without overwhelming. Meanwhile, Amir reads the book and finds it impossible to credit Jason with either behavior or authorship.
Brian Slaten
Madeeha arrives. An attractive, conservatively dressed woman, she’s grateful and respectful, but stronger minded than expected. Except for an issue of colloquials, she’s also articulate. It’s clear they don’t know one another well and haven’t had sex. His bride wants to “begin their married life.” Jason backs away with surprise, trepidation, and a touch of revulsion. What actually happened to bring them together?
“You don’t desire me? Because of how we met? I want an ordinary life just like you. I was scared. Now I am not… You saved me…I’ll make you a very good wife,” Madeeha declares. Their agreement, however, was to divorce as soon as practicality allows. Impasse.
Ramsey Zeitouneh and Haneen Arafat Murphy
Interestingly, online research offers dozens of instances of Arab men marrying American women, but none for the reverse. Imagine the adjustment and internal conflict of arriving here from a war torn nation where men command women, survival is a daily issue, and freedom a pipe dream – on the arm of “an invader,” which is what Madeeha calls Jason when pushed to the wall. Try to conceive of her hopes.
The two couples meet for dinner. Madeeha has translated some of her guest’s poetry. Amir asks questions Lynn feels are provocative and impolite. She’s almost patronizingly sympathetic. There’s an undertone of her thinking Amir is acting as he does because of discomfort with his race. The men castigate one another. Madeeha offers a glimpse of her very different mindset.
Sarah McAfee, Ramsey Zeitouneh, Haneen Arafat Murphy and Brian Slaten
The playwright exposes truth like ripping leaves off an artichoke, closing teeth on it and pulling. Jason and Lynn foment confrontation. Things become incendiary. Compromises are made. Or are they? The play is fascinating and compelling.
Director John Langs gives us four distinct characters from bearing to speech. Cast members seamlessly move panels decorated on one side with Lynn’s artwork. Statues are great fun. (Gloria Novi/Elena Vannoni, also responsible for excellent costuming.)
Haneen Arafat Murphy and Brian Slaten
Haneen Arafat Murphy gives a masterful performance as Madeeha. Her accent is terrific. The actor listens with focus, intelligence and often wrenching emotion just below a translucent surface. She leaves space to absorb. Complexity of the character is a credit to writing and performance.
Brian Slaten’s Jason is a grounded guy palpably uncomfortable with circumstances. It’s easy to see the humdrum peer he might’ve been at college, to believe motive for signing up, and current agonized behavior.
Sarah McAfee’s Lynn is so infuriating, embodiment clearly manifests skill.
Ramsey Zeitouneh (Amir) might let us see a bit more beyond speech and action.
Photos by Ben Hider
Opening: Sarah McAfee, Brian Staten, Haneen Arafat Murphy (Madeeha) and Ramsey Zeitouneh
People of the Book by Yussef El Guindi
Directed by John Langs
Urban Stages
259 West 30th Street
Through November 3, 2024
