THEM, until June 9, 2019 ***1/2

THEATRE
By Samah Sabawi, presented by La Mama Theatre

At La Mama Courthouse, until June 9, 2019 
Reviewer: Kate Herbert 
Stars: ***1/2

THEM Priscilla Doueihy & Abdulrahman Hammoud by Justyn Koh

THEM, Samah Sabawi’s warm, moving play set in an unnamed Middle Eastern country, is a welcome antidote to common images of the Middle East as a region beset with terrorism and violence.

In these troubled times, portrayals of the Middle East and its refugees are often ill-informed at best, and negative, or even hostile, at worst.

Sabawi’s intimate story emphasises her characters’ humanity and vulnerability as they negotiate life-changing decisions of whether to stay or leave their war-torn city and risk their lives to reach a safer place.

Abdulrahman Hammoud brings playful naiveté and hopefulness to Omar, who uses gallows humour to make light of the daily bombs that devastate his family’s life.

As Omar’s wife, Leila, Priscilla Doueihy embodies a mother’s desperate need to seek safety for her infant son, no matter the risks.

Sabawi challenges the audience with moral issues facing Leila, Omar, his sister, Salma (Claudia Greenstone), and their friends, Mohamad (Reece Vella) and Majid (Khisraw Jones-Shukoor), both of whom prepare to escape using the U.N. ‘safe corridor’.

War breeds ethical dilemmas, and Omar’s choice to adhere to his moral code and not accept his sister’s ‘tainted’ money, may prove to be his downfall.

The characters’ humour, despite their dire circumstances, reminds us they are just like us – but trapped in a war zone. There but for the grace of God...

With a capable cast, Bagryana Popov directs this production with sensitivity and commitment, depicting Sabawi’s characters with compassion and occasional light humour.

Popov injects music – a signature of her directorial style – with a full-throated chorus by the male actors, and a pianist (Nahed Elrayes) who provides musical scene links.

The sense of urgency in scene changes, while initially interesting, eventually interrupts the narrative flow and could be streamlined.

THEM is a play with heart that compels us to sit up and listen, suspend prejudices and feel the anguish of these characters fighting to survive in a city shattered by senseless war.

by Kate Herbert

Abdulrahman Hammoud, Khisraw Jones-Shukoor & Reece Vella pic by Justyn Koh

Written by Samah Sabawi

Directed by Bagryana Popov

Set and costume design by Lara Week

Cast

Abdulrahman Hammoud -Omar

Priscilla Doueihy -Leila

Claudia Greenstone- Salma

Khisraw Jones-Shukoor, -Majid

Reece Vella -Mohmad  

Nahed Elrayes -Piano