Interrogations Are Us

Language Rooms – Broken Nose Theatre

At a certain CIA detention center, hidden away somewhere in New York, the agents employed there are hired to interrogate detainees. Their goal is to skillfully extract specific information from individuals who are deemed suspect, for one reason or another. At this particular “black site,” Ahmed, a young Muslim employee who, along with his family, immigrated to America from Egypt as a boy, now works for the United States government. His job is to do whatever is necessary to siphon sensitive facts from mostly Middle Easterners who may, or may not, be a threat to national security.

Ahmed is only one of two Muslim interrogators at this facility. Totally assimilated into the culture of his beloved new country, Ahmed has forgotten most of his skill with the Arabic language. But Ahmed loves his adopted country and feels totally American. Nasser, his friend and co-worker, is concerned about Ahmed. Around the office cooler there’s been some rumblings about Ahmed’s loyalty, so Nasser tries to cautiously warn his friend to be extra careful in what he says and does. When Kevin, Ahmed’s supervisor, calls him into his office to confront Ahmed about his concern, the young man is shocked that his patriotism is being challenged. So Kevin offers the young Egyptian-American a chance to truly prove his allegiance to his job and his country. He will, as usual, be filmed during another interrogation, but this time the questioning will hit home for Ahmed.

Yussef El Guindi’s dark comedy which, in the second act, abruptly turns seriously disturbing and shocking, is about a clash of cultures, as well as a more personal skirmish between a father and his son. This Midwestern premiere is astonishing in the scope of emotion it portrays. El Guindi has stirred up a painful hornet’s nest of ideas and controversy that will generate hours of discussion. His drama has been successfully produced all around the country; and, certainly, director Kaiser Zaki Ahmed’s excellent staging at Broken Nose Theatre will be counted among the very best productions. 

Chicago’s presentation is a true team effort, too. Kudos go to talented theatrical artists Sotirios Livaditis and Conchita Avitia for their inventive scenic and sensational lighting designs. Dialect coaching by Vahista Vafadari and fight and intimacy direction, courtesy of Sasha Smith, make this story feel realistic and immediate. All of this is balanced and overseen by Mr. Ahmed’s intimate staging that brings the action to the front row of the theatre. 

The four actors who make up the cast are very good. Likable Salar Ardebili is boyishly charming and very appealing as Ahmed. His candid earnestness is almost tangible, while often heartbreaking. As Samir, Ahmed’s Egyptian father, Bilal Dardai is simply astounding. His early monologues, delivered in isolation, offer a sometimes humorous, often sympathetic glimpse of why and how this immigrant brought his family to America. The ways Samir had to adapt in order to fit into the culture of his new homeland will be eye-opening to most theatergoers. But once both Dardai and Ardebili share the stage, the two are incredible and hold the audience firmly in their grip until the final moments. Bassam Abdelfattah and Bradford Stevens are both very good in the supporting roles of Nasser and Kevin, although Mr. Stevens sometimes swallows his words making him difficult to understand.

This is not so much an entertainment, but a play for the thinking theatergoer. Audiences will find much to discover and consider within this examination of the secret workings of American Homeland Security. It will probably enlighten and will certainly surprise, even shock, most patrons. But, without any question, no one will leave the theatre unmoved by what they’ll experience during this riveting drama.

Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented April 19-May 18 by Broken Nose Theatre at the Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago.

Tickets are pay-what-you-can and available at the box office, by calling 773-697-3830 or by going to www.brokennosetheatre.com.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.