The Mecca Tales NYC Reviews and Tickets

82%

(28 Reviews)

Positive

86%

Mixed

14%

Negative

Members say

Absorbing, Great acting, Thought-provoking, Great writing, Profound

About the Show

Voyage Theater Company presents this New York premiere, which tells the story of five Muslim women on the pilgrimage known as the Hajj.

When their bus breaks down miles short of their destination, tempers flare and the women find themselves tested in unexpected ways. They share their personal stories with each other in an attempt to move forward in their lives and find meaning in this spiritual journey seemingly gone awry. Poetic and transporting, 'The Mecca Tales' explores the power of ritual and redemption.

Member Reviews (28)

Cliched, Relevant, Slow, Sentimental, Predictable

See it if Five muslim women share their personal issues and help each other to move on. Combats prejudice against muslims being regular people.

Don't see it if Sentimental one-dimensional characters who develop in obvious ways. Earnest, but with little humor. I didn’t learn much about Islam.

Great staging, Great acting, Intelligent, Thought-provoking, Entertaining

See it if You are curious about the hajj. Female characters acting out personal stories within the larger frame of the difficulties of a pilgrimage.

Don't see it if the format of stories within stories or women's lives do interest you.

Critic Reviews (4)

"Using a sly hand, Malik dispenses information through rapid fire thoughtful humor and honest dialogue that flows naturally. Fahmy's direction, Esler's scenic design, and Kengmana's lighting embrace this seamless quality by treating the show as if it were one beautiful dream sequence...It is undeniable that 'Mecca' wraps things up too tidily, however that resolution feels earned and gratifying. Like the production team, the entire cast is flawlessly marvelous."
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"'The Mecca Tales' is an earnest drama that rests its overarching optimism on an individual humanism (facilitated, in the climax of play, by a community of women). With its heterogenous characters, it also works against any monolithic notion of Muslim womanhood. Malik's foregrounding of underrepresented voices enriches the tapestry of contemporary American theater."
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"Playwright Malik successfully makes the pilgrimage more relatable...The production is fortunate to have an excellent cast...The whole group has a great chemistry that makes them enjoyable to watch together onstage. For a touching, humorous look at a transformative religious journey, as seen through the eyes of women, make your pilgrimage to the Sheen Center to see 'The Mecca Tales.'"
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“This relatable and entertaining play shares five very diverse stories about Muslim women participating in a Hajj Pilgrimage. The actors are all professionals who are very convincing. At times, they need to plow through unrealistic dialogue but the play is informative and engaging. I think even as a piece of contemporary women's fiction, it provides a platform for lively discussion. It is also an easy way to learn a bit more about Islam.”
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