An Ordinary Muslim
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Cititour.com Review
The pain of not belonging, especially in a country where you were born and raised, is perhaps immeasurable – a feeling to which many people around the world can currently attest. As the central theme of Hammaad Chaudry’s debut play, “An Ordinary Muslim,” now at New York Theatre Workshop, it’s also a very powerful and topical one that the author explores with unfailing honesty.
Sadly, however, he also overloads the 2 ½-hour work with a few too many domestic drama clichés (shades of Arthur Miller abound) and an excess of political preaching that often undercuts the play’s effectiveness. It’s a problem that the veteran director Jo Bonney, who does terrific work with her cast, might have worked harder to fix.
The play’s central figure is Azeem Bhati (the handsome and dynamic Sanjit De Silva), a London banker who dresses like his colleagues, speaks perfect English, but still stands out because of the color of his skin. While trying to gain a major promotion at work – something his boss (unseen) apparently does not want to happen -- Azeem must also deal with the seemingly sudden decision of his wife, Saima (the extraordinary Purva Bedi), to wear a hijab to her corporate job – which, as expected, leads to such disdain and discrimination that she intends to quit.
In addition, Azeem must play referee (of sorts) between his difficult parents, who live with him: his father, Akeel (the excellent Ranjit Chowdry) is a proud, hot-tempered man who still feels betrayed by how he was treated by the British after World War II and who sometimes physically abuses his own wife, Malika (the superb Rita Wolf). Meanwhile, Malika, a mostly traditional Indian woman, dotes on Azeem while verbally mistreating his older sister Javeria (the very fine Angel Desai) – a fact she blames on Akeel’s behavior towards her.
These strains on Azeem’s life, coupled with his feelings of anger and alienation, lead him (and then Saima) to behave in ways that drive the play’s second act. While we’re always involved in the couple’s struggles, perhaps choosing one side or the other, Chaudry unfortunately has both of them act less-than-believably at times.
Moreover, a long-overdue visit to the family home by Akeel’s old friend Imrah (Harsh Nayyar) and his son Hanza (Sathya Sridharan) –who has romantic designs on Saima – feels a tad contrived. It does have the desired effect of forcing all sorts of truths and revelations from Azeem and Saima, but it doesn’t feel entirely organic.
Still, only the hardest-hearted person could not feel genuine sympathy for any of the main characters, each consigned to a life of difficult choices simply due to their religion and cultural background. That their reality is an “ordinary” one for millions of men and women around the world is horrible, and Chaudry is entirely correct in reminding us that attention must be paid.
By Brian Scott Lipton
Visit the Site
https://www.nytw.org/show/an-ordinary-muslim
Cast
Purva Bedi, Ranjit Chowdhry, Angel Desai, Sanjit De Silva, Andrew Hovelson, Harsh Nayyar, Sathya Sridharan, Rita Wolf
Open/Close Dates
Opening 2/7/2018
Closing 3/25/2018
Box Office
212-460-5475
Theatre Info
New York Theatre Workshop
79 East 4th Street
New York, NY 10003
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