A Second Birth

See it if If you want a play that has seriousness and humor as well. Deals with a afghani women and what it is like to live in Muslim world.

Don't see it if If you want a good or realistic ending. If you dont like smaller, more cramped spaces.

See it if For a small scrappy show, it was well done. Character development was good and the story refreshing.

Don't see it if You are uncomfortable in non traditional theater spaces. It’s in the high area of a church.

See it if Gender issues in Afghanistan, but also a heartwarming story of family, marriage, rebellious teenagers and young love. Great for all ages.

Don't see it if You are not interested in a coming-of-age story set in a traditional Muslim culture. Almost 2 hours in folding chairs. Barebones production.

See it if you'd like a window onto Middle Eastern family life like you've likely never seen it before.

Don't see it if you've no intention of opening up to a domestic situation that, though deeply human, is on the surface very unlike a typical US household.

Also Islamic feminism. Islamic gender-bending. If you only have access to the prevailing view in the US today of Islamic life in the Middle East, you likely find those phrases oxymoronic. Well, think again! Ariel Mitchell’s delightful & deeply human “A Second Birth” will show you how wrong you are, & entertain you mightily along the way. I dare not spoil it for you by revealing anything about the twisting plot. I can say the writing is minute-by-minute sharp, funny & poignant, that the arc of the plot fulfills its every promise & that the colorful production & full-bodied performances could hardly be bettered. One of the real sleepers of the season!... Read more Read less

See it if you are curios about Afghani customs and family life. Charming authentic aspects include costumes, tea traditions & traditional singing

Don't see it if unexpected plot twists or high drama make you happy. The plot of this show is similar to that of a romance novel.

See it if About the custom of bacha posh that challenge one young woman and her family.

Don't see it if You have no interest in what some women go thru in a different country.

Also This show has alot of love in this family. This story does have a happy ending. In the real world some of these young women do not find any happiness. Custom or not custom life can be hard. I thank God for my Dad and Mom and that I grown up and live in the United States.

This theater is one flight of stairs.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a show dealing with a little known practice of Islam in rural Afghanistan and the hypocrisy embraced to "benefit" the family

Don't see it if the acceptance of Western values seen as the "escape" for Muslim women seems too strong an example of projection and the "happy" end unreal.

See it if you want to see an intelligent story of the custom of bacha posh and the challenges it makes for the girl going through it.

Don't see it if you cannot watch a story of a custom that, from a Westerner's eye, is cruel and oppressive to women.

Also Having grown up in the U.S., bacha posh seems like such an oppressive and cruel custom. I was very interested to learn more about it - and this show does a great job giving us a complete view. Very poignant show to see in March - Women's History Month.... Read more Read less

See it if you like productions that explore cultures you may not be familiar with

Don't see it if you want a flashy production, you don't like "Hollywood: endings or can't keep up with fast talking actors

See it if you are interested in strange customs from other cultures

Don't see it if you like realistic endings

Also Much stage time is spent rolling and unrolling rugs. The story is interesting and reflective of documentary films on the same topic. The acting is mostly convincing but amateurish at times. The woman who sings has marvelous stage presence. The "happy-ever-after" ending is not believable.... Read more Read less

See it if You’re more interested in the acting then the storyline

Don't see it if If you were expected and required good writing that isn’t predictable

See it if You enjoy sweet romances mixed with intelligent treatments of gender roles told through the use interesting settings and cultural phenomena.

Don't see it if You mind plays with many scenes and a predictable plot. The play maybe a bit more optimistic and nicer than the reality in the end.

Also Miss Phatak carries the play admirably and this is a play that leans on sympathetic and likable characters in a difficult situation. Nothing innovative or revolutionary here just that but good characters you enjoy spending time with in a solid plot played by good actors works. Particularly when you are exploring such an interesting place and practice.... Read more Read less

See it if interested to learn about diff cultures & traditions through the play,how society dictates the women’s place,how we take granted our freedom

Don't see it if You do not like plays that takes place in small venue, plays deals with male dominance, family dynamics, violence towards women, child bride

See it if You are interested in the well-written, well-acted story of an Afghani woman. Despite heavy themes, it’s surprisingly light and enjoyable.

Don't see it if You’re not open-minded about other cultural practices. You are looking for something profound. It’s basically a romantic comedy.

Also Oddly, while watching this, I was reminded of Star Trek. The custom of bacha posh is so bizarre, it’s hard to believe it actually exists on this planet. It was an educational experience for me, as I know little about Muslim culture. Also like an average Star Trek episode, the tone is cute, funny, a bit preachy and skirts real controversy. I wasn’t in the mood for a bleak tale of oppression anyway. At the same time, perhaps it does a disservice to the girls put in Nasima’s situation to gloss over the injustice of what they’re subjected to. Nonetheless, this was a polished, engaging show, well-worth seeing. If the theme remotely intrigues you, I would definitely recommend it.... Read more Read less

See it if You are intrigued by a story about being a woman in Afghanistan, themes involving gender identity and marriage in Muslim culture.

Don't see it if You are not interested in Muslim and feminist themes.

Also This was a well-acted, well-written production. However, it left me with mixed feelings. I found the practices of bacha posh, arranged marriages and dowries disturbing. While the story is very polished, I didn’t understand if the playwright was for women’s rights, or if she was somewhat endorsing these sexist practices. Having everything turn out all right in the end felt like a cop out. Nonetheless, I can’t find much else to fault in this production. I just wish it was bolder in deciding what was wrong and what was right.... Read more Read less

See it if You are interested in women in Afghanistan

Don't see it if You do not have an interest in women in Afghanistan or in feminist themes or themes of gender identity

Also Although this show was well acted and well paced I have a problem with mixing naturalism with politcal polemicism. There were times when I wondered if the characters were meant to be real people or just mouthpieces to make political statements or symbols of different types of thinking.and the the play banged the audience over the head with the feminist theme and feminist statements.
May be to make this play more universal the political environment unique to Afghanistan was brushed over too lightly--that the reason that Naseema had to change over was because under the Taliban it was too dangerous for her to go around as a boy was mentioned very quickly in passing and the danger of Naseema traveling alone was also treated very lightly--this frustrated me and I believe detracted from the realism. I also wonder if someone who gender identifies as male would be romantically interested in males. However, this would be a great play for high schoolers to both see and perform... Read more Read less

See it if You like a show that is entertaining with good acting and a happy ending. Learning aspects of a different culture is always fun for me.

Don't see it if You need comfortable seats and a splashy set. Theatre is small and it was difficult to sit in the hard fold up chairs for the duration.

See it if you're interested in explorations of gender, family, and cultural expectations.

Don't see it if you'd prefer a show addressing this subject that is written by an Afghan

See it if you are interested in other cultures and girls / women's rights and issues

Don't see it if you are sensitive to an orientalist view. you expect consistent great acting from all actors in the play.

See it if A play about gender norms in Muslim culture, through an interesting example of faking gender identity to "protect" their family

Don't see it if You want a musical, or an ending that feels predictable and sappy (it's a nice ending though).

See it if you enjoy going on a cultural journey.

Don't see it if you don't like small intimate theater settings.

See it if You enjoy plays with cultural diversity. Well done.

Don't see it if Are not interested in customs not familiar with.

See it if You appreciate a sincerely written and acted play about emotions and that deals with gender discrimination

Don't see it if You want something enjoyable and touching

See it if you appreciate cultural diversity in approaches to life; appreciate sincerity in theater over slick production values

Don't see it if you are put off by a simplistic and obvious plot and production that felt amateurish at times (I wasn't); don't like value challenges

Also I enjoyed this show greatly for its presentation of another way of life and the nuances that aren't present in most media. That it was predictable and felt amateurish didn't matter as it had a strongly heartfelt feeling to it, conveyed by the actors and the staging.... Read more Read less

See it if You are interested in other cultures, or in gender issues, or the possibility of becoming the other gender.

Don't see it if You are not interested in any of the above.

Also A fascinating exploration of a custom of gender-switching; the ending is a little predictable, but the cast does wonders showing us the experiences along the way.... Read more Read less