The Kite Runner at Oxford Playhouse Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Joanna Woodburn
It was an absolute delight to join a packed audience for the play adaptation of Khaled Hosseini’s best selling and much loved novel, The Kite Runner at The Playhouse, Oxford, which is now touring the UK to great acclaim. Directed by Giles Croft, The Kite Runner has enjoyed successful Broadway and West End seasons and is a show which should not be missed.
Situated directly opposite the Ashmolean Museum, in the heart of Oxford, The Playhouse is an intimate and wonderfully friendly venue, with very comfortable, uniquely multi coloured seating offering plenty of leg room, audiences are guaranteed a good view from anywhere in the auditorium.
Matthew Spangler’s thought provoking play adaptation tells the story of young Amir, a privileged Pashtun child, growing up in Kabul before the Russian invasion of Afghanistan. Amir’s friend, Hassan, is a poor, illiterate Hazara servant in Amir’s household who also happens to be an expert in kite retrieval.
Amir’s peaceful and happy childhood comes crashing to an end when Amir does not stick up for his friend against the cruel bully, Assef. Amir’s personal story from then on is a painful portrayal of guilt, remorse and atonement set against the backdrop of war torn Afghanistan over a quarter of a century.
With such an intertwined and complex story, this is a play which is tightly spun. The story telling is intense and mesmerising, as it builds to its inevitable ending and throughout there is a feeling of connection and intimacy with the audience. It is a credit to this production that the most violent and disturbing scenes are most sensitively and respectively portrayed, either behind a screen or through shadow images through the different locations.
All the talented cast give convincing and fully committed performances. Spangler’s play is also true to the novel with its first-person narration. As the only character who directly relates to the audience, Stuart Vincent really gives it his all, with a superbly compelling and engaging performance as Amir, a character who has had his whole life shaped and haunted by a terrible childhood incident. The tragic character of Hassan is touchingly played by Yazdan Qafouri, who portrays his character’s unquestionable loyalty with great innocence, warmth and honesty.
The packed audience was a testament to the blockbusting popularity of this heart-tugging novel and reflecting how many have already been touched by Hosseini’s magnificent story telling. The Kite Runner is a show full of humanity, weaving through this complex story and evoking a great range of emotions, from the depths of tragedy to moments of retribution and hope.
Opening audience’s hearts and minds, many tears were dried with love. The Kite Runner soars to great heights! Huge congratulations and a big thank you to the cast and production team.
Rating: 5/5
Tickets cost from £14
The Kite Runner is showing at The Oxford Playhouse, Oxford from Tuesday 30th April to Saturday 4th May, for more information or to book tickets visit https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/the-kite-runner
or call the box office on 01865 3053
Beaumont Street, Oxfordshire, OX1 2LW