THE KITE RUNNER
Khaled Hosseini’s heartrending story about Amir, a young Pashtun (Sunni) man born in Afghanistan who carries a lifetime of guilt because of his cowardice and betrayal of his best friend Hassan – a Hazara (Shi’a) who is his servant and the son of Ali, servant and friend of Baba Amir’s father..
Hosseini is a great story teller and he is writing about things that could have happened in his own life. The story captures you right from the beginning when Ben Turner as Amir breaks into the opening spectacular kite flying sequence to talk about his life..
.Thinking of the turbulence of the middle east today it is difficult to think of Aghanistan as a tranquil, happy place with trees and elegant buildings. It is pre-revolutionary Afghanistan – the land of Amir’s youth. His rich dad is hot tempered , combative and football playing and Amir’s best friend is Hassan, the son of his father’s servant Ali . They play together many games including kite running which is the national sport.
Their friendship is mocked by Assef the bully who tortures and humiliates whenever can. He calls Hassan a flat nose and says Amir is a faggot for being friends with someone of a different class.
The setting of the Kabul scenes by Barney George is simple but stunning. A fairly stark background with exquisite kite borders that come in fanlike to illustrate the various scenes..
In Act two the atmosphere is different. Starting with the terrible conditions the Pashtuns endure when they have to escape Kabul after the revolution. They eventually arrive in San Francisco where, despite their gentle breeding they are forced to work in the flea market along with other Afghanistan refugees in order to learn a living in this strange country. It is an interesting inside story of how it must feel to be a displaced person and a recent immigrant.
The story leaves one sitting in the theatre, unable to move in case you miss something. It is a powerful piece.
However, I feel that the second act was a bit too long, I understand there is a lot of story to fit in, the book is in three parts and in the Parts two and three are both in Act two.
Hosseini tells us his book is about Friendship, Betrayal, Guilt, Remorse, Redemption and Parental love. It deals with problems in race, religion immigration and gender. You’d think he could miss out a few of these.
However give thanks to Giles Croft who directed it and congratulations to Matthew Spangler for a neat adaptation. It is a complicated plot and he managed to get most of it in!
The kites are beautiful and make a spectacular display and all through the play, there is a Harif Khan who plays the Tabla drums which sensitively illustrates the atmosphere and makes the production very special indeed..
Ben Turner makes no excuses for Amir and never tries to play for sympathy. The Christ like aspect of Hassan is brought out by the humility and lovability of Andre Costin but it is altogether a splendiferous cast. I loved Emilio Doorgasingh as the stormy Baba. Who cannot understand why his son would write stories about magic cups, with pearls for tears. His reaction when Amir tries to interest him in his writing producers humour as well as heartbreak.
This is definitely a show to be seen. Whether you have read the book or not. It stands on its own as an exceptional piece of work.
THE KITE RUNNER
Khaled Hosseini’s heartrending story about Amir, a young Pashtun (Sunni) man born in Afghanistan who carries a lifetime of guilt because of his cowardice and betrayal of his best friend Hassan – a Hazara (Shi’a) who is his servant and the son of Ali, servant and friend of Baba Amir’s father..
Hosseini is a great story teller and he is writing about things that could have happened in his own life. The story captures you right from the beginning when Ben Turner as Amir breaks into the opening spectacular kite flying sequence to talk about his life..
.Thinking of the turbulence of the middle east today it is difficult to think of Aghanistan as a tranquil, happy place with trees and elegant buildings. It is pre-revolutionary Afghanistan – the land of Amir’s youth. His rich dad is hot tempered , combative and football playing and Amir’s best friend is Hassan, the son of his father’s servant Ali . They play together many games including kite running which is the national sport.
Their friendship is mocked by Assef the bully who tortures and humiliates whenever can. He calls Hassan a flat nose and says Amir is a faggot for being friends with someone of a different class.
The setting of the Kabul scenes by Barney George is simple but stunning. A fairly stark background with exquisite kite borders that come in fanlike to illustrate the various scenes..
In Act two the atmosphere is different. Starting with the terrible conditions the Pashtuns endure when they have to escape Kabul after the revolution. They eventually arrive in San Francisco where, despite their gentle breeding they are forced to work in the flea market along with other Afghanistan refugees in order to learn a living in this strange country. It is an interesting inside story of how it must feel to be a displaced person and a recent immigrant.
The story leaves one sitting in the theatre, unable to move in case you miss something. It is a powerful piece.
However, I feel that the second act was a bit too long, I understand there is a lot of story to fit in, the book is in three parts and in the Parts two and three are both in Act two.
Hosseini tells us his book is about Friendship, Betrayal, Guilt, Remorse, Redemption and Parental love. It deals with problems in race, religion immigration and gender. You’d think he could miss out a few of these.
However give thanks to Giles Croft who directed it and congratulations to Matthew Spangler for a neat adaptation. It is a complicated plot and he managed to get most of it in!
The kites are beautiful and make a spectacular display and all through the play, there is a Harif Khan who plays the Tabla drums which sensitively illustrates the atmosphere and makes the production very special indeed..
Ben Turner makes no excuses for Amir and never tries to play for sympathy. The Christ like aspect of Hassan is brought out by the humility and lovability of Andre Costin but it is altogether a splendiferous cast. I loved Emilio Doorgasingh as the stormy Baba. Who cannot understand why his son would write stories about magic cups, with pearls for tears. His reaction when Amir tries to interest him in his writing producers humour as well as heartbreak.
This is definitely a show to be seen. Whether you have read the book or not. It stands on its own as an exceptional piece of work.
pyekan 