For the second mainstage production as Artistic Director of
Mixed Blood Theatre, and the first he's directing, Mark Valdez choose a new play by Itamar Moses (whom I know primarily for writing the books of the musicals
The Band's Visit and The Children's Theatre's stage adaptation of
An American Tail).
The Ally debuted at
The Public Theater in NYC earlier this year, and now it's here in Minneapolis - a smart choice of a brilliantly written play, artfully executed by Mark, the creative team, and this terrific cast.
The Ally is a must-see, and the kind of theater we need right now. It delves into one of the most contentious issues of our time, the Israeli/Palestine conflict, and brings the kind of nuance and humanity to it that seems to be missing in a lot of the debates, arguments, and accusations surrounding it right now. I don't know the solution to this decades, even centuries long problem, and the play doesn't offer one either. But what it does do is provide a place for thoughtful, informed, respectful discourse about it. Not that the characters are always respectful; the play is tough to watch at times as some real pain and righteous anger are on display. But through these characters we're able to explore, process, and maybe come to some new understandings about the conflicts in our lives.
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Asaf (Sasha Andreev) talks to Baron (Ndunzi Kunsuga)
and Nakia (Nubia Monks, photo by Rich Ryan) |
The play centers on Asaf Sternheim, the son of Israeli immigrants and an atheist, who recently moved to a college town with his wife Gwen when she took a new job working on the expansion of the university. Asaf is floundering a bit, teaching a class on playwrighting and screenwriting, while working on his next play and trying to find his place in this new environment (I wonder how much of the character is auto-biographical - a playwright/screenwriter writing a story about a playwright/screenwriter). The conflict arises when former student Baron asks Asaf to sign a manifesto written in response to police shooting and killing his cousin over the summer. To add a bit of juicy drama, it's sponsored by a social justice organization headed by his ex-girlfriend Nakia, whom he hasn't seen in 20 years. Asaf is ready to sign the document, which is mostly about fair and equitable treatment of Black students and citizens, but questions the mention of Israel, and specifically how it is mentioned. But after talking to Nakia, he signs the manifesto, after which a couple of students approach him to sponsor a new Jewish student group that will partner with a Palestinian student group to bring in a controversial speaker. This starts a series of events and conversations, in which Asaf, who throughout the play has been swayed by the arguments he's hearing, thinks and speaks about these issues in a way he never has before.
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Asaf (Sasha Andreev) is surrounded
(with Ndunzi Kunsuga and Tic Treitler, photo by Rich Ryan) |
Everyone in this cast gives an incredible performance, and makes their character compelling and relatable and sympathetic (even if we don't always agree with what they say). There really wasn't one character that I wasn't moved by at some point. In a completely different role from his last one (the horror comedy
The Reunion), Sasha Andreev shines as Asaf, never leaving the stage in Act I and only briefly in Act II. We see him struggle with these ideas and how to express his opinions, we see him lash out in anger, we see him genuinely moved by others' arguments (to the point where he almost made me cry, this time without even singing!). Sun Mee Chomet is also excellent as Gwen, and the two have a believable chemistry as husband and wife. Their scenes are the most comfortable and comforting, as we see them truly listening to and supporting each other (although not without conflict - Asaf's choices affect Gwen's career).
Nubia Monks is having a fantastic year and continues to impress here as Nakia, playing some delicious personal history with Asaf that complicates the current conflict. The rest of the cast is made up of young actors that make me very hopeful about the future of #TCTheater, because they're all just so good going toe to toe with the more experienced veterans. A dancer making his professional acting debut, Ndunzi Kunsuga is so natural and understated as Baron. Guthrie/U of M BFA student Tic Treitler has been
showing up on several stages around town lately, and here is a little spitfire as Rachel, so sure she's right, and taking no prisoners in her quest to go after it. Ahmad Maher is mostly quiet throughout the play as the Palestinian student who lets Rachel lead the way, but towards the end of the play has perhaps the most moving monologue about the horrors that the Palestinian people face. Last but not least, David Michaeli only appears in one scene, but gives an impassioned and unforgettable performance as a Jewish student opposed to the new group Asaf supports. The entire cast, under Mark's direction, is so great at bringing this difficult subject to light, and I can only imagine the amount of trust they've built in the rehearsal room to be able to be so vulnerable with each other (and the audience).
The play is just over two and a half hours long (including intermission), but it never drags. You really couldn't cover everything this play covers in any less time, and it's gripping from start to finish. It's brilliantly staged by Mark Valdez on a corridor stage with audience on both sides, which is such a smart and interesting choice for this play. At times, when characters are debating, they're far apart on the stage, and it's like you're watching an intense tennis match as they volley words and ideas back and forth. At times two characters come together in space for a moment of connection, at other times one character is opposed to all of the others, emphasizing the separation. The stage is all white, almost fluorescent, with entrances on either side, one metal chair the only set piece, brilliant in its simplicity. It's almost surreal and outside of place, as if it could be happening anywhere. The costume design is also simple and elegant - college kids (and professors) wish they dressed this well, chic and cool and modern. (Scenic design by Eli Sherlock, costume design by Garry Lennon.)
The Ally is so smart, so thoughtful, so well-written (including both conversational dialogues and stirring monologues) so nuanced in its exploration of this contentious issue. It really gave me a new understanding of several points about this conflict, and all conflict in general. The play also explores how oppressed or persecuted groups can be allies to each other (hence the title), and the conflicts that can arise. This isn't always an easy play to watch (although there are moments of humor), and doesn't offer easy answers, but it's so rewarding, thought-provoking, and thoroughly engaging.
See it at Mixed Blood Theater in Minneapolis' Cedar-Riverside neighborhood now through November 10, with an optional talkback after every show to continue the conversation.
