Suehyla El-Attar brings anticipation to the theatre world
On Saturday afternoon, Suehyla El-Attar was brave enough to host a reading of her work-in-progress at 7 Stages as part of their Home Brewed Series. Dr. Who, The Devil & My Dad is a deeply personal play about the loss of someone you love, grief, learning how to let go, and coming to terms with all the mysteries that surround death. What El-Attar called a “rough draft” was visually appealing (even for a table read), emotionally compelling, and innovative through plot and character.
Next season at 7 Stages can not come soon enough. With the expected opening of the season with El-Attar’s newest work for the stage, there will be much work to do for designers, actors, and directorial choices. Just hearing the play read aloud on a blank stage and with zero movement, props, or costumes produced such beautiful, scary, and punch to the gut imagery that the end result will surely blow the imagination away.
The inspiration for the play is the death of El-Attar’s father. A heavy handed topic for writer and audience. But the El-Attar has already created a mix of emotions that will give the audience breaks from the gloom of death; because in the end it isn’t about dying itself, it is about living afterwards. Her wit and humor add nice touches to the main characters building breakdown and willful ignorance to what is actually happening. The characters surrounding her, though also entrenched in seriousness in motivation, add to the necessary balance between shit-wrecked and “you’re going to be alright.”
Although not a Dr. Who watcher, fan, or harbinger of any Dr. Who knowledge whatsoever, I still found the inclusion of this character interesting and understandable. Introducing Dr. Who into the play isn’t about knowing the show or needing a background, although I am sure having one would be helpful to understand the specific Dr. Who tics and actions, it is about knowing the connection that Dr. Who created between father and daughter, knowing that this is a catalyst for something else, something that means much more than television. All the characters are like this. They are complicated and not easily or concretely defined. There is a great amount of loneliness and questioning of what is real and what is not. It is a David Bowie Labyrinth moment, where you hope that those new friends that got you through something so terrible will remain in some way.
For more about 7 Stages Home Brewed Series, visit 7stages.org.
