The Throat Play

Having read the script for Back of the Throat prior to seeing the performance, I had a few expectations regarding the performance. First, found myself siding with Khaled more due to the fact that seeing him in person helped me relate to him better in the sense that he seemed like a normal twenty-something living in the city. It also made me more suspicious at times seeing his reactions to the agents. Additionally, I didn’t expect the set to be so dynamic. It was interesting seeing how as the play progressed, the agents uncovered more clues within small space that was his apartment. The acting exceeded my expectations and helped me understand and contemplate the meaning of the written words. While reading the script, it was hard to differentiate …show more content…
Regarding the venue, I enjoyed the intimate space, but the thrust stage made it difficult to see the entirety of the show at times from my corner seat. The seating can really affect an audience member’s perception of a play, but I believe the director took this into account so that the actors utilized the whole set to include each audience member. I believe Yussef El Guindi made the play start slow and pick up once the flashbacks started to make the audience originally perceives Khaled as a helpful, normal citizen. Although Bartlett and Carl were rude and racist, I found myself growing to fear that Khaled was guilty. This back and forth paranoia made me ponder about my own perception of other cultures. I was truly shocked at some of the vulgar comments said by Carl, Bartlett, and Asfoor, but controversial comments were meant to engage the audience. When Carl attacked Khaled, my shock attributed to my suspension of disbelief during the show. The fighting was obviously fake, but the act itself made me think about the racism that still exists in our society and the problem with police …show more content…
For the Millennials, the Global War on Terror was the first war to happen during their lifetime. Airports, immigration laws, tourism, and the overall attitude towards people with Middle Eastern descent have changed immensely. Back of the Throat explores how the American psyche has changed since the attacks have occurred. The central theme behind the play is fear and paranoia. At first Khaled is paranoid that he is guilty, and the federal agents look like the villains. Then, certain clues point to Khaled being guilty of being associated with terrorist activities, and the federal agents look like the heroes. In the end, the audience doesn’t know who or what to believe. This made my think about whether safety or privacy was more important in the end. I thought about the rights America was built on, and how easily they can be forgotten. I thought about how important basic human rights are, and how Khaled’s were disregarded because of his heritage. Overall, I though Back of the Throat was a thought provoking play which made the audience reflect on America’s