The Kite Runner
The Kite Runner is the debut novel by Khaled Hosseini, an Afghan-American author. It revolves around Amir, a young boy from Kabul's Wazir Akbar Khan district, his friendship with Hassan, and his desire to please his father, Baba. The play portrays the dynamics between father and son as complex and strained, especially during difficult times. Baba, an influential and affluent merchant, sees his illegitimate son Hassan embodying strength and bravery. However, he perceives his legitimate son, Amir, as lacking these qualities, being weak, creating tension and conflict within their relationship. Khaled Hosseini's powerful portrayal of the immigrant experience delves into real-world events, such as the fall of Afghanistan's monarchy, the migration of refugees, the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, which compelled Amir and his father to seek refuge, and the emergence of the Taliban regime. It also delicately touched on the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001. The incredible storyline is profoundly moving and captivating, offering a poignant reflection of the tumultuous challenges and adversities they encountered while adapting to life in a new country. The play discusses the prohibition of drinking alcohol in Islam, and it mentions Baba's labeling of those who question his drinking as hypocrites. It also highlights Baba's belief that the only real sin is theft, which takes many forms, with the worst being having an affair — which, ironically, he becomes his own hypocrite, as he robbed from his servant Ali, who was sterile, unable to have children, by having a child with his Ali's wife which we learn is Hassan. Assef, a significant antagonist in the novel, consistently hurls derogatory remarks (faggot) at Amir and Hassan. He is the offspring of a Pashtun father and holds the belief that Pashtuns are of superior status compared to Hazaras. The Afghan tradition of kite flying, known as gudiparan bazi, holds a special place in the heart of Kabul, where the sky becomes a canvas adorned with the beautiful hues of countless kites. This tradition also encompasses the competitive spectacle of kite fighting, where participants wield "fighter kites" equipped with lines coated in adhesive, abrasive substances, or sharp materials as they vie to bring down their opponents' kites. The ultimate goal is to send the adversary's kite soaring into the distance — where others (kite runners) assist the kite fighter race to retrieve the fallen kites. Hassan was known as an exceptional kite runner.
Ramzi Khalaf's captivating narration using kites brings to life the journey of the protagonist, Amir, from his childhood in Kabul to his challenging transition to adulthood. The story unfolds as he and his father escape to San Francisco to evade the oppressive regime of the Taliban. Prevailing throughout the play was Amir's cowardness, guilt, and shame for not being his father's desired child and the mysterious and annoying love Baba had for Ali's son Hassan, played by Shahzeb Zahid Hussain. A passionate writer, Amir finds solace in his passion for crafting short stories, a talent his father, Baba, disapproves of due to its perceived femininity. However, with the support of Rahim Khan, Baba's closest friend, Amir continues to pursue his passion. Amidst this, Amir meets Soraya, the daughter of General Taheri, and despite her controversial past, Amir finds himself deeply in love with her and eventually seeks her hand in marriage. The Kite Runner Amir and Hassan's relationship is purely genuine, with both believing they are lifelong friends; however, their friendship is one-sided as Amir's cowardice eventually leads to the betrayal of Hassan, and his lies are a direct result of his death. Though Hosseini speaks about the redemption of Amir when he rescues Hassan's son and brings him to the United States, I only see him as being a coward who was redeemed with the help of his wife's relationships with her family in Kubal that helped bring Hassan's son to the United States. The 15 actors displayed remarkable chemistry, delivering exceptional performances, with Haythem Noor portraying Baba, Shahzeb Zahid Hussain as Hussan, and Wiley Naman Strasser as Assef, superbly bringing their characters to life. However, the unsung hero behind the scenes is Salar Nader, the Tabla Artist. Nader composed the music and lent his talent to six previous Kite Runner productions. The Kite Runner fearlessly confronts controversial and provocative language that may be insensitive and inappropriate. It doesn't hold back in depicting a sexual assault inflicted upon Hassan, which strongly impacts Amir's relationship with him. It may be offensive to some; however, the portrayal commendably sheds light on the insensitivity prevalent in the country towards women and their views regarding homosexuality. We shield ourselves with our immorality, drifting like kites in the boundless sky, mesmerized by the breathtaking panorama above, oblivious to the suffering of those marginalized within our society. I had never read the book nor watched the movie, but I was genuinely surprised by how much I was captivated by this rendition of The Kite Runner. It was an enthralling, riveting narrative.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
CIBC Theatre
The Kite Runner
Based on the best-selling novel by Khaled Hosseini
Adapted by Matthew Spangler
Directed by Giles Croft
June 11 – June 23, 2024
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