Chester Theatre Company, Chester, MA
Through July 15, 2018
By Mary Fernandez-Sierra
Moving and superbly performed, Disgraced is another triumph
for Chester Theatre Company.
This play, a Pulitzer Prizewinner about heritage and
cultural currents and consequences, is heartrending, thanks to the eloquent script by Ayad Akhtar and dynamic
direction of Kristen van Ginhoven.
It is the tale of true love lost and gifts gone wrong due to
misunderstanding and intolerance, so it is not easy theatre to sit through; but
it is worthwhile to absorb the message, and to admire the fine performances of
the cast, as well as the artistry of the Chester Theatre ensemble in the
telling.
J. Paul Nicholas as Amir, the up-and-coming American
executive who both seeks and hides his Muslim background, is utterly charming
and tragic. He is a powerhouse
performer, giving his all to the role.
Stunning as well is Kim Stauffer, portraying Emily, Amir’s
wife. One hears her visions about Islamic art, seeing them through her eyes as
though the visual images were present onstage. Her deep affection for her
husband and her artistic ideals are fully realized in a passionate and powerful
performance.
In supporting roles, Christina Gordon, Jonathan Albert and
Abuzar Farrukh are equally strong. Each character steps up, speaking the truth
as they see it in difficult circumstances, with depth and conviction. The
subtle humor and wit of this play is often rendered up by these characters;
bravo!
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| Photo by Elizabeth Solaka |
Scenic Design by Juliana von Haubrich creates an elegant
contemporary New York apartment, somehow evocative of boxes, pigeonholes and
bars. Lighting Design by James McNamara is extraordinary in its rich colors and
patterns, suggesting underlying drama and tension, as well as ancient Islamic
beauty.
Costume Design by Stella Schwartz realizes the glitz and
glamor of aspiring young professionals, and Tom Shread’s exotic music seems to
flow from the characters themselves, and the disparate worlds they come from.
Behind all this theatrical harmony is the fine hand of
Director Kristen van Ginhoven, who orchestrates the voices, hearts and events
in Disgraced with certainty and simplicity to be a meaningful tale for our times.
