Review of ‘Invisible’: Underrepresented Brown British Actors – The Gentleman Report
“Invisible,” a solo play by Nikhil Parmar, embodies the changing attitude of Britain. The play focuses on the disappearance of Islamic fundamentalists as the West’s primary enemy and the emergence of Chinese terrorists as the new designated villains. While this shift may be a positive development for brown British actors like Zayan Prakash, it also presents challenges as their abundant roles as Muslim terrorists have vanished. They are now left with stereotypical characters like doctors, cab drivers, and corner shop owners, often without names.
“Invisible” was presented at 59E59 Theaters as part of the Brits Off Broadway festival. The play is a mixture of drama, satire, and revenge and directed by Georgia Green for London’s Bush Theater. The play begins as a sharp and lively comedy, with Zayan recounting his encounter with his ex-girlfriend, Ella, who is also the mother of his daughter. However, as the story unfolds, it delves into deeper issues of reality.
The play explores Zayan’s sense of invisibility, now that he is no longer perceived as a terrorist. This loss of identity and recognition is disheartening for him. Throughout the 60-minute duration of the play, Zayan is portrayed as a multifaceted character – an underemployed actor, a hesitant cater waiter, an incompetent weed dealer, a caring father, and an inattentive son. He is also haunted by the memory of his deceased sister, the one person who truly saw him.
The narrative of “Invisible” can sometimes be complex, but each character and scene serves a purpose. The play effectively critiques the limited perceptions of a culture and an industry, shedding light on the capabilities and experiences of a marginalized group. It is a thought-provoking and astute response to the biases and prejudices that persist.
Invisible
Running Time: 1 hour.
Venue: 59E59 Theaters, Manhattan
Website: 59e59.org
Nikhil Parmar’s play, “Invisible,” is a striking reflection of Britain’s changing mindset. The play showcases the disappearance of Islamic fundamentalists as the West’s favorite enemy and the emergence of Chinese terrorists as the new designated villains, which is good news for brown British actors like Zayan Prakash. However, it also presents challenges, as their once abundant roles as Muslim terrorists have vanished, leaving them with stereotypical characters like doctors, cab drivers, and corner shop owners, often without names.
Presented at 59E59 Theaters as part of the Brits Off Broadway festival, “Invisible” is a mix of drama, satire, and revenge, directed by Georgia Green for London’s Bush Theater. The play begins as a sharp and lively comedy, with Zayan recalling his encounter with his ex-girlfriend, Ella, who is also the mother of his daughter. However, as the story unfolds, it delves into deeper issues of reality.
The play explores Zayan’s sense of invisibility now that he is no longer perceived as a terrorist. This loss of identity and recognition is disheartening for him. Throughout the 60-minute duration of the play, Zayan is shown as a multifaceted character – an underemployed actor, a hesitant cater waiter, an incompetent weed dealer, a caring father, and an inattentive son. He is also haunted by the memory of his deceased sister, the one person who truly saw him.
The narrative of “Invisible” can sometimes be complex, but each character and scene serves a purpose. The play effectively critiques the limited perceptions of a culture and an industry, shedding light on the capabilities and experiences of a marginalized group. It is a thought-provoking and astute response to the biases and prejudices that persist.
Don’t miss “Invisible,” a one-hour play that explores the changing attitudes of Britain, at 59E59 Theaters in Manhattan. Visit 59e59.org for more information.
Nikhil Parmar’s solo play “Invisible” portrays a changing mindset in Britain. The play highlights the disappearance of the Islamic fundamentalist as the West’s favorite enemy, and the emergence of Chinese terrorists as the new designated villains. While this may seem like good news for brown British actors like Zayan Prakash, it also presents challenges as their once abundant roles as Muslim terrorists have vanished. Now, they are left with stereotypical characters like doctors, cab drivers, and corner shop owners, often without names.
Presented at 59E59 Theaters as part of the Brits Off Broadway festival, “Invisible” is a mix of drama, satire, and revenge. Directed by Georgia Green for London’s Bush Theater, the play begins as a sharp and lively comedy, with Zayan recounting an encounter with his ex-girlfriend, Ella, who is the mother of his daughter. However, as the story unfolds, it delves into deeper issues of reality.
The play explores Zayan’s sense of invisibility, now that he is no longer perceived as a terrorist. This loss of identity and recognition is disheartening for him. Throughout the 60-minute duration of the play, Zayan is shown as a multifaceted character – an underemployed actor, a hesitant cater waiter, an incompetent weed dealer, a caring father, and an inattentive son. He is also haunted by the memory of his deceased sister, the one person who truly saw him.
The narrative of “Invisible” can sometimes be complex, but each character and scene serves a purpose. The play effectively critiques the limited perceptions of a culture and an industry, shedding light on the capabilities and experiences of a marginalized group. It is a thought-provoking and astute response to the biases and prejudices that persist.
Invisible
Running Time: 1 hour.
Venue: 59E59 Theaters, Manhattan
Website: 59e59.org
