Back of the Throat is a play written by Arab-American playwright Yussef El Guindi. The play reflects the fear of the Arab-American community in the post-9/11 America.[1][2]

It was first performed by San Francisco's Thick Description and Golden Thread Productions in April 2005.[3][4][5]

It was performed in 2005 in Seattle,[2] in 2006 at The Flea Theater in New York City under direction of Jim Simpson,[6][7] and has also been produced in other locations, including Chicago,[8] Pasadena, California (Los Angeles area),[9][10] and London.[11]

The play won the 2004 Northwest Playwrights' Competition held by Theater Schmeater,[2] L.A. Weekly's Excellence in Playwriting Award for 2006, was nominated for the 2006 American Theater Critics Association's Steinberg/New Play Award, and was voted Best New Play of 2005 by the Seattle Times.[3]

Plot

The play is an approximately 75 minute one-act production, about a young Arab-American (Khaled) confined to his home by two government agents.[9] The questioning of Khaled intensifies as the play progresses, with seemingly every item in his apartment a potential source of suspicion. It is revealed that his girlfriend first reported him for seeming suspicious in light of recent "attacks" which have occurred.[9]

The play's title is a reference to the pronunciation of the Arabic “K” in Khaled’s name.[9]

References

  1. ↑ Dinitia Smith (February 11, 2006). "For Arab-American Playwrights, a Sense of Purpose". The New York Times. Retrieved May 28, 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 Misha Berson (May 27, 2005). "Fear and paranoia electrify resonant Kafkaesque play". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 28, 2010.
  3. 1 2 "ACT & Icicle Creek Announces New Play Festival". BroadwayWorld.com. May 18, 2010. Retrieved May 28, 2010.
  4. ↑ "Opening this week". Oakland Tribune. April 14, 2005. Retrieved May 28, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Playwrights find a fertile ground for exploration". Contra Costa Times. March 19, 2005. Retrieved May 28, 2010.
  6. ↑ Neil Genzlinger (February 14, 2006). "Homeland Spies Poking Around a Cluttered Apartment". The New York Times. Retrieved May 28, 2010.
  7. ↑ Steven Snyder (June 23–29, 2006). "Nothing subtle about 'Back of the Throat'". Downtown Express. Retrieved May 28, 2010.
  8. ↑ Nina Metz (April 12, 2006). "`Back of the Throat' offers taste of civil rights debate". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 28, 2010.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Steven Mikulan (July 6, 2006). "My Own Private Gitmo". LA Weekly. Retrieved May 28, 2010.
  10. ↑ Charlotte Stoudt (June 30, 2006). "The bitter taste of security". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 28, 2010.
  11. ↑ Jeremy Austin (September 25, 2008). "Back of the Throat (Review)". The Stage. Retrieved May 28, 2010.
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