With oppressive regimes regenerating themselves by applying old practices commonly undertaken by dictatorships, the power of art remains to be an essential force that motivates the masses to resist and fight against the normalization of abusive practices. This is a mini-festival that aims to analyze and track the dynamics of oppression, discrimination, and abuse as portrayed by three significant playwrights from the U.S., England, and Egypt, in the second half of the 20th century. All readings will be followed by a talk. 5:30pm Amiri Baraka’s Dutchman (1964) A powerful one-act drama, Dutchman is set on a New York subway train, the play is a searing two-character confrontation that begins playfully, but builds rapidly in suspense and symbolic resonance. 6:30pm Harold Pinter’s One for the Road (1984) Considered by Frank Rich as Pinter’s “statement about the human rights abuses of totalitarian governments”. The play is set in a room, during the course of one day, where family of three–a father, mother, and a child–are interrogated and tortured. 7:30pm Salah Abdul-Saboor’s Night Traveller (1969) A black comedy set in a train heading to an unknown destination with three main characters: Narrator, Passenger, and Conductor. Throughout this absurdist narrative, the Conductor manipulates the Passenger’s identity by playing mind games and exerting oppressive practices.
New York City, NY; NYC