Review: ‘An Ordinary Muslim’ Gets Caught Between Cultures and Genres

"This is already a great deal for one play to shoulder, and I haven’t even mentioned the thread of the plot that considers the pressures on Azeem that come from within the Muslim community." This is hardly a great deal? This is just the average day to day reality of most of us who are not US born whites. There has been a lot of discussion about the need for more critics of color. This kind of commentary is exactly the reason why. I found it quite easy to handle these multiple threads. Should the playwright be catering to those who have little familiarity with code switching or the need to navigate a society that seems to preach inclusion while practicing exclusion? No. That is the experience of a large part of the population. Hardly "high-thread count" - just the basic every day reality of a lot of people. This is akin to saying that a portrayal of a woman who struggles with balancing her professional life with motherhood, partnership, her own personal identity and on top of it facing the reality of aging in a patriarchal society is just "one too many plot points." HIRE MORE CRITICS THAT ARE FEMALE AND/OR PEOPLE OF COLOR.

I saw the play “an Ordinary Muslim” last week, and came across the Times review, which I have been thinking about, because I found the play to be quite gripping. While I think the review was not really negative, but rather thoughtful, I believe it missed an important point. I think the reviewer thought that by fitting several related stressful and important issues all together the effect was to dilute the focus on any one of them. However, what I found most powerful is by focussing on all together its effect on me was to show how possibly overwhelming it can be to the lives of people trying to deal with a number of significant stresses all at the same time. And, I think this play did just that - at the end, the the mix of all those stresses was overwhelming to this family, and, realistically, the overall issues were too overwhelming and therefore not neatly resolved. I.e., it did not have a resolved ending - and that’s life. I was fully engaged. It was continually stressful, as one issue led to another, and by the end, my first thinking was “no”! Where is the neat release of audience stress? Well, that’s life. There is no neat resolution for this family.

A vital, fine production with a phenomenal cast, especially Ms. Rita Wolf. I think the poor critic has confused his opinions with some other play.

I, too, disagree with the review. An Ordinary Muslim is a very powerful play. It portrays the intrinsic complexities of religious, cultural and individual identities of the South Asian diasporic community in a very sensitive manner. Artists were outstanding and Purva’s was exceptional.

I thought this show was excellent. I expected it to focus solely on the issues related to being a Muslim in a Christian country. Instead, It dealt with the broader issues confronting an ordinary family with the additional aspect of being Muslim. This made it a much more interesting story. It was coherent, well written and well acted. I highly recommend it.

I disagree with the review and found An Ordinary Muslim to be incredibly moving and necessary, especially now. At its heart, the play explores what it means to feel powerless in a world that is impervious to change. It's about finding the courage to step into who you are. Also, the performances are absolutely exquisite.

I don't disagree that plays are mysterious machines, often cumbersome in the most experienced hands. I do disagree however that this was one such play. I saw clearly my friends and family in the piece. The play doesn't try to push a thesis or any other ideology, and feels honest in its depiction of the Pakistani family and the myriad confusing emotions that go with being an immigrant. There's a lot going on, but never did the play feel muddled, nor did I ever feel the need for the play to "sustain an argument." There's honesty in the emotional confusion and cognitive dissonance the characters face, a reality that may be impossible to convey without experiencing it.

I saw the play yesterday and disagree with the review. The review was breezily written with little appreciation or understanding of a fresh voice who accurately and powerfully captured the unsettling nature of immigrant experiences. For the immigrants or sons and daughters of immigrants in the audience, the play rang true and evoked strong memories and emotions. For others, it gave them an opportunity to witness and contemplate the cultural and socioeconomic egg shells that many immigrants walk on everyday, particularly Muslims. The play is neither muddled nor abstract. The playwright and the cast aptly captured the never ending cycles of immigrant struggles spanning all the way from 1947 Britain to the 21st century. The audience certainly saw it. The reviewer would have seen it the same way had he just looked at the play through the right end of the telescope.

I disagree with this review--the play was very thought-provoking and relatable. The characters were complex and real. I could agree on some level with the perspective of each person in each conflict and that made it most interesting. There was nothing "muddled" about the show at all. When reading reviews, usually AFTER I see a show I want to see, I wonder more about the reviewer and what is missing in HIS life that made my experience so wildly different than his. It was lovely to see a show with an audience filled with people of color, reacting audibly as the play went on. I was not the only one that found it moving and believable.

I saw this play at the end of February, and to be honest, I think the reviewer missed the mark entirely. This play was incredibly moving and told a story that translates to so many different immigrant experiences, including the forced immigrant experience of African Americans in this country. The powerful and painful struggle of Azeem is one that I recognize intimately but rarely see portrayed in film or theater. The female characters are also complex and fascinating characters struggling with incredible challenges imposed on them by a racist and sexist society. I can't possibly do this incredible play justice with a description here. For all of the readers of the NY Times that want to understand a little bit more about what it means to be black or an immigrant in this country - I say go see this incredible play. Yes, the play is set in the UK and is about a Pakistani immigrant family, but the story and the struggle is sadly quite universal. Honestly, it should be required viewing for all Americans in my opinion, if that were possible. As for the NY Times review, it reads like whitesplaining and mansplaining to me.

I saw this play on Saturday, March 10, thought it was superb in all respects. I came away from this review puzzled, wondering if the reviewer was "confused" by its intensity. Kudos to all involved.