When an immigrant family comes to Canada, you expect them to blend into the culture and customs of the country. Right?
It’s just so much easier, everyone thinks. Maybe it’s easier, but it’s not always that simple as Concrete Theatre displays in its world premiere of Under Cover on Oct. 29 and 30 at the Stanley A. Milner Library.
Award-winning playwright Mark Haroun (A Giraffe in Paris), now a writer for the CBC series Heartland, has penned a story of cultural misunderstandings about the ways Muslims practise their religion.
“It has a message of accepting diversity — to view people not in terms of stereotypes but as individuals,” says Haroun, a former Bellerose grad.
In this youth targeted script directed by Mieko Ouchi, Ella (Andréa Jorawksy) is a regular teenager of Middle Eastern descent. She speaks English and has never met her extended family. During a high school summer vacation, she travels to Lebanon for the first time to visit her grandmother.
Ella reconnects with her roots and faith. Upon returning to Alberta, she decides to wear a hijab (headscarf), much to the displeasure of her parents. They have suffered discrimination and are not keen to expose her to negative attitudes.
When Ella returns to school in the fall, she encounters a variety of attitudes. Her friend Kelly, (Carmela Sison) a funky thrift store shopper, is understanding of her choice. Sid (Richard Lee His), the class joker, is always slinging one-liners and occasionally goes overboard. But the most overtly negative reaction comes from Drew (Garett Spelliscy), a jock with a crush on her. He believes Ella’s parents are pressuring her into a lifestyle not of her choosing.
Ironically, Haroun says that most of what the public hears about the hijab comes from negative media stories. However, all the young Muslim women he interviewed chose to wear the hijab of their own accord.
“All the young women wanted to be examples of good Muslim women. They wanted to fully commit to their faith,” he says. “More than anything, I learned there is no consistency — there is so much diversity.”
Concrete Theatre has developed a reputation for top-drawer youth productions, which last year were viewed by 13,000 students across Alberta. While touring, “We’ve seen how schools struggle to respect diversity, race and culture. We hope that by tackling this story, it helps educate about these issues,” says Ouchi.
She has high praise for Haroun’s script writing. “He has a fabulous ear for drama. He’s able to capture the way teens talk. People will love these quirky teens. And he writes with short, snappy scenes. Its very cinematic the way it’s pulled together.”
For more details about Under Cover call Concrete Theatre at 780-439-3905 or visit www.concretetheatre.ca
