In a Clear Concise Arabic Tongue
Collection Description
This collection includes ten short plays: In BRASS KNUCKLES, a woman, Maysoon, stands in front of a mirror, puts on her hijab, and girds herself to face the outside world. In PICKING UP THE SCENT, archeologist Hisham feels compelled to enter a war zone to do his job. His wife, Nisrin, finds the risk too great. In THE TYRANT, a deposed ruler defends his record as a man devoted to his people. In THE BIRDS FLEW IN, a mother’s son has made the ultimate sacrifice. THE MONOLOGIST SUFFERS HER MONOLOGUE offers a ruminative monologue on Palestine. In SO UNLIKE ME, a battle-scarred peace activist struggles with her calling. In THE SNIPER, when a man is casually introduced to an army sniper, it provokes a deeply discomfiting reaction. A MARRIAGE PROPOSAL is a delightful adaptation of Chekhov’s classic short comedy with a distinctly Egyptian twist. In THE REVIEW, a writer’s relationship is on the line when his work reveals perhaps more about his own biases than he realizes. In RADICAL DEPARTURE, a Muslim man prepares to board a plane under the suspicious eyes of his fellow passengers.
- Reviews
- About the Author(s)
- About the Book
- Special Notes
Press Quotes
“PICKING UP THE SCENT is a heart-breaking opener about life in a war zone. Archeologist Hisham discovers a lost perfume bottle. His wife, Nisrin, a poet, begs him not to pursue its history further, what with the risk of the falling bombs and military advances. What follows is a stripped-down, actor en actor tear jerker. These are glorious moments: virtually no set, just black curtains, and a few actors giving it their all. It’s a zinger of a start.” —Clinton Stark, Stark Insider
“In THE TYRANT … excellence is established for the entire evening … The play itself is brilliant, dark, challenging and thoroughly believable … At the end of this ‘short’ play I felt like I’d spent a month with this man, and that the experience had entirely changed the way that I look at myself and the world. Pretty much the definition of a ‘complete,’ fully-realized play.” —Jerry Kraft, SeattleActor.com
“Last night I saw one of the best short political plays I’ve ever seen, a fifteen-minute one-person play called SO UNLIKE ME about a veteran peace activist … wrestling with despair, bleakness, powerlessness, the appeal of violence, the strengths and limits of non-violence and a bunch of other tough issues. It’s funny, eloquent, disturbing and would make a great addition to some kind of cultural program that peace groups are putting on.” —Paul Loeb (author of Soul of a Citizen) in a letter to a peace activist
“THE SNIPER [is] humor-filled but honest and riveting reflection on the deep psychological roots of militarism.” —Robert Avila, San Francisco Bay Guardian
“THE MONOLOGIST SUFFERS HER MONOLOGUE is a witty and vibrant piece.” —Jeffrey R Smith, Jeffrey R Smith Reviews
Book Information
Publisher | BPPI |
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Publication Date | 12/7/2021 |
Pages | 180 |
ISBN | 9780881459166 |
Special Notes
If original stage producers credits appear in bold below, all licensees are required to include them in the following form on the title page in all programs distributed in connection with performances of the Play and in all advertising in which the full cast appears in size of type not less than ten percent (10%) of the size of the title of the Play:
In addition, the following must appear within all programs distributed in connection with performances of the Play:
by special arrangement with Broadway Play Publishing Inc, NYC
www.broadwayplaypub.com