DISGRACED on Broadway

Dear readers, I want to take this opportunity to make one final push for one of the finest, most thought-provoking plays I've seen on Broadway in years. Do your best to catch it before it closes on March 1st! I want to share with you a special discount code for tickets as well as a new trailer for the play. Below is my review of the play.

Code DIBBOX105 can be used over the phone (212-947-8844), in person at the Lyceum Theatre Box Office (149 West 45th Street), or online at TelechargeOffers.com. The discount offers $95 Select Orchestra and Mezzanine seats and $55 Rear Mezzanine seats. Some black out dates may apply.

The new trailer can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn-py-3JJrE

A few days ago I had the pleasure of seeing DISGRACED on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre. I didn't do much research beforehand and needless to say, I was surprised. Ayad Akhtar's play is though provoking and it will hit your preconceptions like a punch in the face. You have a Muslim Pakistani man, Amir (Hari Dhillon) who is married to a white woman, Emily (Gretchen Mol). Amir works as a lawyer with Jory (Karen Pittman), whom is married to Isaac (Josh Radnor). Isaac and Emily are both artists and having a secret affair. The fifth character, Abe, (Danny Ashok) is Amir's nephew and a supporter of a radical Imam. So now you are caught up.

I saw this play as an allusion to Adam and Eve. Amir has renounced his Muslim upbringing and wants nothing to do with it, while his wife Emily celebrates Islam, studies Islamic art, and encourages Amir to go back to his roots. When Abe wants legal help for an Imam accused of supporting terrorist activity, Emily convinces Amir to jump in. When Amir does get involved, even on the fringe, that's when things fall apart, just as they did for Adam and Eve when Eve convinced Adam to eat the apple. Ownership is such a major theme in this play. Each character meets their downfall when they choose to take or not to take ownership of their own actions. This is particularly interesting because coupling is so important in the structure of Akhtar's play. We have the marital duos and the career duos, but each conflict is ultimately about individuals' decisions.

You may think you are completely open-minded when it comes to race and religion, but Akhtar's work will make you feel uncomfortable. It forces you to ask yourself the difficult questions. It is not for the faint of heart, but if you expect theatre to make you think and feel, this is your show. Don't make plans for any post-show events unless you can discuss the play. Trust me, you will have plenty to talk about.