Chilling Comedy Explores Islamophobia in Post 9/11 America
Two cast members take part in a dress rehearsal of the spring play.
By Rachel Leider, Web Editor
Humorous yet uncomfortable, Yussef El Guindi’s “Back Of The Throat”, premiering in the Dungeon this Thursday April, 26th, will be the third installment in Kalamazoo College’s Theatre & Social Justice season.
This one act full length play tells the story of Khaled, an Arab-American writer, and two government officials who visit his apartment to do some routine questioning, this seemingly comical show slowly turns unpleasant and then even violent.
“For the longest time Arab issues or Muslim issues just had not been on the radar, the subject was just “too edgy. Then came 9/11. Suddenly there were calls for plays.” Said playwright Yussef El Guindi.
Directing the production is senior theater arts major, Hutch Pimentel. ”I was interested in directing it because I thought the discussion the play can spark about Islamophobia and the racial profiling of Arab-Americans after 9/11 was extremely important,” said Pimentel. Revealing the strong wave of racism after the attacks on 9/11, “Back of the Throat” draws a lot of scrutiny on the very real political and religious violence many Arab- Americans and Muslims face.
“I hope that the play will start a discussion on our campus about the horrors of bureaucracy, what happens behind the two-way mirror, and who is more dangerous to our safety- those we’re being protected from, or those protecting us,” said Pimentel
Hoping to echo the permanent affect on Khaled’s life, this one forceful visit from government agents has had, the set design will look severe. “The set was designed by Jon Reeves, who was inspired by the work of the artist Sir Francis Bacon. The set looks deteriorated and industrial, with a single bare bulb hanging in the middle of the set,” said Pimentel
“Back of the Throat” will be performed April 26th-29th in Kalamazoo College’s Dungeon Theater in the Lights Fine Arts Building. The Thursday show, followed by a discussion will start at 7:30 PM and is a “pay what you want” show. Friday and Saturday performances will begin at 8:00 PM and on Sunday there is a 2:00 PM matinee. Shows on Friday, Saturday and Sunday will cost 5:00. Tickets will be available an hour before each show, and the seating is first come first serve.
