Scorched

As I often ask RAs, “what’s your favorite book?”… always get at least one Tisch acting student who gives me a play.  No worries, I’ll read it.  This one was actually pretty darn good.  The play is originally called “Incendies” but is translated into English and titled: Scorched, written by Wajdi Mouawad.  The play takes place after the death of Nawal, the mother of twins, Janine and Simon.  The twins arrive to listen to the reading of their mother’s last will and testament.  Their mother leaves them two letters behind, one for their “father” and one for their “brother” – whom they were not aware of having.  This has the two children journey to their homeland to find out the history their mother never shared with them, what they find will shock them.  During their journey they meet numerous people who remember their mother, not for anything she did, but for her beautiful voice.  She was imprisoned at one point in her early life, gave birth to the twins, and the twins were condemned to death, but what happened?  The twins were saved by one of the men on watch at the prison who gave the children away.  The journey brings the children to face a dangerous and frightening past for their mother.  I won’t reveal the final secret of Nawal, which will destroy the memory of their brother AND their father.  This play has a real Ancient Greek feel to the play.  All I can say is I did not see this ending coming.  Love to see it staged.  Lots of “forward and back” look at Nawal’s life throughout.  Worth a read for you play lovers.