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| Rohina Malik as Shabana, a South Asian rapper "Unveiled" by Rohina Malik New Rep Through January 28th Mosesian Arts Center Photo by Andrew Brilliant/Brilliant Pictures |
The theme for this season at New Rep is "Resilience." Within that theme is a series entitled "Statements of Survival." The current production running in the black box theater at the Mosesian Center for the Arts fits these themes to a T. The production is co-presented with Greater Boston Stage Company, which will host the play in February in their space in Stoneham Square.
Using as a launching pad her owned experiences as a Muslim woman wearing the hijab, Rohina Malik, has crafted a play consisting of five vignettes. Each of the five women soliloquize, sharing their reasons for wearing the veil - the hijab - and the thoughts, feelings, and experiences that go on behind their veil. The women are:
- Maryam, a Pakistani immigrant
- Noor,a Moroccan American, born and raised in Chicago
- Inez, an African-American convert or "revert" to Islam
- Shabana, a South Asian rapper
- Layla, a Palestinian immigrant
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| Rohina Malik "Unveiled" by Rohina Malik New Rep Through January 28th Mosesian Arts Center Photo by Andrew Brilliant/Brilliant Pictures |
What these five women share in common is their faith and their garb - and their love for tea or coffee. In all other aspects, they are individuals with their own stories, personalities, and ways of relating to the world that often fears them or rejects them.
Ms. Malik is powerful in her portrayal of these memorable women. One by one, their stories tear away shreds of the veil of ignorance and fear about Islam that many of us carry within us. We learn that Muslims are not a homogeneous horde hell bent on terror and destruction. We learn that some of them lost relatives and close friends in the towers on 9/11 - innocent victims. Using tea and coffee as a uniting theme, each of the women warmly welcomes the audience into her world. And each performance is followed by a talk back with the author/actor that features tea and cookies!
The result of this encounter is that each sentient audience member experiences the transformation of having veils lifted from his eyes or her heart - veils of ignorance, misunderstanding, and fear. A simple set by Jeffrey Petersen of gorgeous oriental rugs and a table with tea accouterments is all that Ms. Malik needs to take us on a magic carpet ride of discovery. Lighting is by Matthew Guminski. During key moments, the monologues are accompanied by a musician playing an oud, a Middle Eastern lute-like stringed instrument.
The play will be presented in Watertown through January 28th. You do not want to miss this special gift.
Al
New Rep Website
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