The Milwaukee Post

By JULIE MCHALE Post Theater Critic MILWAUKEE — "Disgraced," the most pro- duced play in America dur- ing the 2015-'16 season, won a Pulitzer Prize for a rea- son. It is relevant, provoca- tive, meaty and intense. Playwright Ayad Akhtar, a Pakistani implant, was raised in Wisconsin and attended Brookfield Central High School. He has contracted with The Milwaukee Rep to produce two more plays. His first hit, "The Invisible Hand," won acclaim in 2015 when it played in the Stiemke Theater. Four highly educated and successful characters inter- act in this story. There's Amir, a high-powered lawyer who has changed his name to a Jewish one. His wife, Emily, a Caucasian artist, explores and reflects on Islamic art. Her agent and dealer is Isaac, a Jewish man with whom she shares a secret past. Jory, a black, ambitious and suc- cessful lawyer, is married to Isaac and works with Amir. These four people are friends and respect each other's achievements. However, at a dinner party at Amir's and Emily's house, the conversation turns to their differences in ethnicity and religions, and an unexpected turbulence follows. Whoever offered the advice, "Never discuss religion and politics with family and friends" was probably offering a mod- icum, if not a big slice, of wisdom. I think our recent presidential election proved that statement to be true. The big ideas that emerged for me are stereo- typing and betrayal and how both can ruin relation- ships. The first is usually caused by ignorance and lit- tle contact with a given group, and the latter by fear or temptation. Open-mind- edness and integrity are the paths to avoiding both. A fifth character is repre- sented by a young man, a nephew of Amir, who pays the price for straddling the line between fitting into American culture while remaining true to his her- itage. Unfortunately, this is a daunting task in a world where prejudice prevails. All five actors delivered splendidly in their roles: Maboud Ebrahimzadeh as Amir, Janie Brookshire as Emily, Jason Babinsky as Isaac, Austene Van as Jory and Imran Sheikh as Abe. The set design decisions made by James Youmans were effective, especially in the final scene when the stage reflected the broken- ness experienced by the characters. Group discussions follow each performance for those who are interested. There's a lot to process here, so hon- est sharing of ideas and impressions are often help- ful in engendering greater understanding of our dif- ferences at a time when this deeply needed. Marcela Lorca, director of Company Development at the renowned Guthrie Theater in Minnesota, does a fine directing job. Kudos to all who are responsible for this production. 14 • Milwaukee County Post • January 27, 2017 MILWAUKEE — The Historic Third Ward Association announced Stephanie Sherman will be its part-time, interim direc- tor focusing on strategic planning, membership and its annual meeting. She will also assist in the group's search for a new executive director. Sherman is a past executive director of the Westown Association, former co- owner of Lela Boutique, and a nonprofit and small- business consultant. Nancy O'Keefe, the Historic Third Ward's exec- utive director, has announced her retirement and has spent 20 years in a leadership role. "We take great pride in keeping the neighborhood clean and safe, providing for an exceptional quality of life, and offering events and programming that best rep- resents our urban lifestyle," O'Keefe said. As part of the planning process, she said, "we are creating a strategic plan that will set the stage for a future Third Ward that hon- ors the past while creating a dynamic future." MILWAUKEE — After nine years of rebuilding its company, Ko-Thi returns to the Milwaukee stage with "VIBRATIONS: Rhythmic Motion." Founded in 1969, the fifth genera- tion of dancers will perform at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 2 and Feb. 3 at the Wilson Theater at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 N. Water St., Milwaukee. The performance will feature Ko- Thi's adult company and the Ton Ko-Thi Children's Performing Ensemble. There will also be a post- performance talk-back with the company and an archival exhibit. The show is centered around the dance, drumming and theater reflecting traditional African and contemporary performance art. The concert will feature collabora- tive works and staging by DeMar Walker, Sonya Thompson, artistic director Ferne Yangyeitie Caulker, Kumasi Allen and Yossouf Koumbassa. Caulker founded the company in 1969. The children's ensemble began in 1983. "To connect and move African dance and music from obscurity to the light, to expose children, and all audiences to the beauty and signifi- cance of the African aesthetic to the world has been my life path," Caulker said in a statement. The concert is supported by Bader Philanthropies. Tickets are $12 and up. Call 414- 273-7206 or visit marcuscenter.org or ticketmaster.com. ENTERTAINMENT Michael Brosilow Maboud Ebrahimzadeh, left, and Jason Babinsky perform in The Rep's "Disgraced." Tony-winning playwright with local ties captures turbulent times Historic Third Ward names interim director Ko-Thi returns after nine-year building process with new stage show "Disgraced" The drama runs through Feb. 12 at The Milwaukee Rep, 108 E. Wells St., Milwaukee. Call 414-224-9490 or visit MilwaukeeRep.com. At a glance 'Disgraced' proves provocative

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