Diversions > Theater
Back of the Throat
St. Louis Actors’ Studio
Wednesday, April 1, 2009 11:22 AM CDT
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Play: Back of the Throat
Group: St. Louis Actors’ Studio
Venue: Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle
Dates: April 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12
Tickets: $18 and $25; contact 800-982-2787 or www.ticketmaster.com
Story: Khaled is a struggling young writer living on a modest grant that barely pays the rent on his tiny New York City apartment. Following the devastating terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, he invites two government agents to his home to help them investigate the crimes any way he can. At first, agents Bartlett and Carl are cordial and thankful for the opportunity to meet the Arab-American writer; Carl, in fact, even seems to possess a rudimentary understanding of Khaled’s background, referring to the “back of the throat” sound required to correctly pronounce his name.
Gradually, though, their tenor becomes menacing as they probe the relationship between Khaled and a suspected terrorist named Asfoor, using verbal and physical threats to extract information from Khaled while also questioning his former girlfriend, a librarian and a stripper who may have incriminating evidence about his involvement in the attacks.
Highlights: First produced in 2004 on the West Coast and subsequently performed throughout the country, this riveting, one-act drama by Arab-American playwright Yussef El Guindi fits neatly into the St. Louis Actors’ Studio’s season that focuses on “power and politics.” Part Orwellian, part Kafkaesque, it’s a challenging work that looks like the innocent flower before intriguingly revealing itself to be the serpent beneath it.
While the basic premise of the young writer inviting government agents to his home is a bit of a stretch, El Guindi’s superb characterizations and clever plot development turn this simple story into a riveting and disturbing cautionary tale about paranoia, the blurring of opinions into facts, Big Brother government run amok through the deceptively titled Patriot Act and a nightmarish assault on civil rights.
Other Info: Associate artistic director David Wassilak’s direction is taut and exhilarating, accelerating the pace from its pleasant opening tempo to its disturbing and troublesome climax. Kevin Beyer and John Bierson deliver expert performances as the agents, cleverly alternating their good cop/bad cop roles while subtly blending their questions of the writer to the point that it is scarily unclear what the government men have rehearsed and what is impromptu. Beyer is particularly chilling delivering Bartlett’s schizophrenic outbursts of violence.
Julie Layton offers three distinctly etched portrayals as the trio of women depicted, including a throwaway bit as the librarian. As the spurned girlfriend and the cocky stripper at a club frequented by Khaled, she helps build the case against the writer with seeds of observations that are nurtured into fully grown threats and actions by the government. Alan David does a good job portraying the idealistic central character, although he slips into over-acting a time or two, and Joseph Garner is fine etching the socially stunted and somewhat creepy character of Asfoor.
Lisa Beke provides the satisfactory costuming, Wassilak contributes the sound design and Patrick Huber’s set design provides maximum usage of the compact stage, with complementary lighting.
Back of the Throat is well written and well realized in this compelling production that will trouble both your mind and your heart.
Rating; A 4.5 on a scale of 1-to-5.
Group: St. Louis Actors’ Studio
Venue: Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle
Dates: April 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12
Tickets: $18 and $25; contact 800-982-2787 or www.ticketmaster.com
Story: Khaled is a struggling young writer living on a modest grant that barely pays the rent on his tiny New York City apartment. Following the devastating terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, he invites two government agents to his home to help them investigate the crimes any way he can. At first, agents Bartlett and Carl are cordial and thankful for the opportunity to meet the Arab-American writer; Carl, in fact, even seems to possess a rudimentary understanding of Khaled’s background, referring to the “back of the throat” sound required to correctly pronounce his name.
Gradually, though, their tenor becomes menacing as they probe the relationship between Khaled and a suspected terrorist named Asfoor, using verbal and physical threats to extract information from Khaled while also questioning his former girlfriend, a librarian and a stripper who may have incriminating evidence about his involvement in the attacks.
Highlights: First produced in 2004 on the West Coast and subsequently performed throughout the country, this riveting, one-act drama by Arab-American playwright Yussef El Guindi fits neatly into the St. Louis Actors’ Studio’s season that focuses on “power and politics.” Part Orwellian, part Kafkaesque, it’s a challenging work that looks like the innocent flower before intriguingly revealing itself to be the serpent beneath it.
While the basic premise of the young writer inviting government agents to his home is a bit of a stretch, El Guindi’s superb characterizations and clever plot development turn this simple story into a riveting and disturbing cautionary tale about paranoia, the blurring of opinions into facts, Big Brother government run amok through the deceptively titled Patriot Act and a nightmarish assault on civil rights.
Other Info: Associate artistic director David Wassilak’s direction is taut and exhilarating, accelerating the pace from its pleasant opening tempo to its disturbing and troublesome climax. Kevin Beyer and John Bierson deliver expert performances as the agents, cleverly alternating their good cop/bad cop roles while subtly blending their questions of the writer to the point that it is scarily unclear what the government men have rehearsed and what is impromptu. Beyer is particularly chilling delivering Bartlett’s schizophrenic outbursts of violence.
Julie Layton offers three distinctly etched portrayals as the trio of women depicted, including a throwaway bit as the librarian. As the spurned girlfriend and the cocky stripper at a club frequented by Khaled, she helps build the case against the writer with seeds of observations that are nurtured into fully grown threats and actions by the government. Alan David does a good job portraying the idealistic central character, although he slips into over-acting a time or two, and Joseph Garner is fine etching the socially stunted and somewhat creepy character of Asfoor.
Lisa Beke provides the satisfactory costuming, Wassilak contributes the sound design and Patrick Huber’s set design provides maximum usage of the compact stage, with complementary lighting.
Back of the Throat is well written and well realized in this compelling production that will trouble both your mind and your heart.
Rating; A 4.5 on a scale of 1-to-5.
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