Good Muslim Boy, Feb 14, 2018 ***

THEATRE 

Adapted by Osamah Sami & Janice Muller from Sami's memoir 

Produced by Malthouse Theatre and Queensland Theatre Company
At Malthouse Theatre, until March 11, 2018 

Reviewer: Kate Herbert 

Stars:***

Review also published in Herald Sun Arts/ Lifestyle on Friday Feb 16 2018. KH

Rodney Afif & Osamah Sami - Good Muslim Boy - pic Tim Grey

If you've ever cursed governmental red tape, Good Muslim Boy by Osamah Sami will make you thank your stars that you’ve never confronted Iran’s obstructive bureaucracy.

In this stage play adapted from his memoir by Sami and director, Janice Muller, Sami plays himself in a distressing but often funny, true tale about wrangling Iranian bureaucrats so he can transport his father’s body home to Australia after he dies suddenly on holiday in Iran.

During his four-day ordeal, Sami travels from office to office and city to city, facing a parade of characters ranging from the grotesque and manipulative to the tragic and ordinary.

Rodney Afif is particularly effective in multiple roles, including a hilarious cab driver, a surly clerk, a jaded cop, and a helpful Imam. Nicole Nabout plays other minor characters, including a moving portrayal of a philosophical, homeless woman sleeping on a snow-laden street, although her male roles are less successful.

Sami himself may have limited stage-acting skills, but he relies on the truthful emotion of personal experience, and his final scenes, dealing with his father’s exodus, are touching.

Some dialogue sounds too prose-like, as if lifted directly from the memoir, while the series of short scenes and Sami's direct-to-audience self-narration, lack dynamic range. However, the Aussie colloquialisms, local references and linguistic confusions provide plenty of comedy.

A simple but versatile design (Romanie Harper) uses a large, transparent, tram shelter that transforms into multiple locations in Melbourne and Iran, including mosque, morgue, embassy, airport and government offices.

Despite its flaws, the story grabs us with its depiction of the passionate commitment of a son trying to honour his departed father, a scenario many will recognise.

By Kate Herbert

BY / Osamah Sami, adapted for the stage by Osamah Sami and Janice Muller
DIRECTION /Janice Muller        
CAST / Rodney Afif, Nicole Nabout, Osamah Sami
SET & COSTUME DESIGN / Romanie Harper
LIGHTING DESIGN / Ben Hughes
SOUND DESIGN & COMPOSITION / Phil Slade