Sydney Reviews

Photos - Heidrun Lohr

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Baghdad Wedding has a certain hum and buzz surrounding it. Since its triumph at the Soho Theatre in London in 2007, theatre companies around the world have been eager to stage it. Lucky then that Company B managed to negotiate the rights. Of all the words written about Iraq none are so affecting as those of playwright London based Iraqi ex-pat, Hassan Abdulrazzak, who has deftly filled a gap, writing the story of “normal” 30 something Iraqis. The three central characters drive the plot forward reminding us that “real” Iraqis are like us, educated, drink alcohol, smoke dope, listen to Franz Ferdinand, have fights and fall in love. That the backdrop is their shattered country politicizes Baghdad Wedding and makes it deeply heartfelt and blackly comic at the same time.

The narrative bounds along using a conventional story teller, the shy and endearing Marwan (Yalin Ozucelik). He tells the story of his friend, charismatic bi-sexual writer Salim (Ben Winspear) whose dilettante ways are deeply cynical but hugely entertaining as he struggles to maintain his reputation - having written the controversial novel ‘Masturbating Angels’ much to the horror of his compatriots who think themes of sexual perversion are unsuitable - while the country is being bombed to smithereens. Both Marwan and Salim are in love with the defiant, funky Luma (Melanie Vallejo), a young medical student who they meet while studying at London’s Imperial College. That the location switches between Iraq and London and jumps forward and backwards to re-cap parts of the story is an effective theatrical device, serving to contrast the relative ease of ex-pat life with the dysfunction of down town Baghdad.

Though only two hours long, Baghdad Wedding traverses a multitude of themes and offers poignant insights into the experiences of Baghdad Iraqis. Geordie Brookman’s direction is spot on with thoughtful and innovative blocking link scenes in fresh and symbolic ways, Marwan drags a chair through sand to signify a road, a young female US soldier - reminiscent of Lindy England - drags her boot through the sand to demarcate Salim’s cell, Salim’s entries and exits are cleverly embedded in the plot. Robert Kemp’s set design is sympathetic and works effectively to support the actors.

This is dynamic, funny, incisive theatre. It engages the audience from the opening and spins us along. Brutality is matched with tenderness, language is poetic without being self conscious and the characters elicit our empathy directly as we identify with Marwan’s broken heart and Luma’s fragile hope. Writer Hassan Abdulrazzak has achieved a work of great secular humanism. This production, rich and fully realized, does it immense justice.


Company B presents
Baghdad Wedding
by Hassan Abdulrazzak
 
Directed by Geordie Brookman

Venue: Belvoir St Theatre, 25 Belvoir St, Surry Hills
Dates: 12 February – 22 March, 2009
Times: Tuesday 6.30pm, Wednesday to Friday 8pm, Saturday 2pm & 8pm, Sunday 5pm.
Tickets: Full $56. Seniors (excluding Fri/Sat evenings) and Groups 10+ $46. Concession $34
Student Rush $25 for Tuesday 6.30pm and Saturday 2pm, available from 10am on the day (subject to availability)
Bookings: 9699 3444 or www.belvoir.com.au