The world premiere new play
Maybe You Could Love Me by L.A.-based Muslim playwright Samah Meghjee is a gem of a two-hander. The story of two Muslim girls growing up in Florida, in love but unable to be together because of the expectations of their culture, is sweet, funny, sad, and lovely. And Theater Mu has cast the perfect two actors to bring these two endearing characters and their precious relationship to life. It's
playing for two more weekends only at Mixed Blood Theatre, highly recommended if you're looking for adventurous, new, original theater.
The story of Noor and Sajida is told in multiple timelines. Act I switches back and forth between when the girls are 8 years old, spending every day after school together at Noor's house while Sajida's single mother is at work, and when they are 17 years old, hiding out in Noor's room from the bridal shower being thrown for her brother's fiancé. The two girls are very different; Sajida is very concerned with not doing anything considered haram (not allowed), but has plans to go to college and make a life for herself, while Noor doesn't care so much about the laws of their culture but sees no future for herself other than getting married and having children. The two begin a sexual relationship sometime between 8 and 17, which they also see differently. Sajida is completely in love and wants to make a life with Noor, but Noor claims it's just for fun before they get married to men and start having babies. Despite this tension between them, they see each other through the difficult times and the fun times. In Act II, we jump forward to when they are young women of 26, each having gotten what she wanted, but neither satisfied.
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young Noor (Ashembaga Jaafaru) and Sajida (Sushma Saha)
go swimming (photo by Rich Ryan) |
Katie Bradley continues her excellent directing career here, nimbly managing the multiple time jumps in the script which are always clear from subtle changes in set and props and the actors' vocal and physical mannerisms, as well as navigating the tonal shift from childhood comedy to adult drama. #TCTheater actor Ashembaga Jaafaru and NYC-based actor Sushma Saha (last seen locally in Mixed Blood's pandemic-shortened production of
Interstate,
you can watch The Stages of MN interview Sushma about both shows here) both beautifully inhabit their characters, and are so believable creating this painfully beautiful relationship. Sushma's Sajida in particular wears her heart on her sleeve, and absolutely ripped my heart out crying the breathless tears of a child and the even more devastating adult tears. Ashe is also great as the more confident Noor, making it even more moving when she eventually reveals her heart. And both actors are believable as children, teenagers, and adults, capturing the essence of each age with subtle differences.
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Noor (Ashembaga Jaafaru) and Sajida (Sushma Saha)
meet again as adults (photo by Rich Ryan) |
The stage at Mixed Blood has been transformed into a cozy bedroom, with purple walls adorned with posters, a four-poster bed hung with curtains, piles of clothes everywhere, and fluffy pillows. The comforter on the bed is reversed and some posters changed out as we move between ages, and the intermission is well used to clear out any remnants of childhood. There's also a cute little bathroom that pops out from behind a curtain on one side. The two actors rarely leave the stage, instead changing clothes between scenes right on stage, from cute girlish clothes, to teen wear, to traditional clothing with matching head scarf, to the more conservative clothing of adults. (Scenic design by Mina Kinukawa, costume design by Sarah Bahr.)
One of the best parts of theater is that it can give us empathy and understanding for people we think are different from us, and
Maybe You Could Love Me does that beautifully. Even if the specifics of your life or culture may be different from Sajida and Noor's, everyone can relate to the awkwardness of growing up, the challenges of family and societal expectations, the pain of a love that cannot be, and the enduring love of friendship.
