Reviewed by Amanda Hayes
The Matthew Spangler stage adaption of Khaled Hosseini’s novel The Kite Runner has you mesmerised from the start. With a simple backdrop of the Kabul skyline nothing distracts from the actor’s fine performance as Amir (Raj Ghatak) acts as narrator to the in-depth story line. Amir now living in San Francisco tells the story of his childhood and how it all changed when he was 12 years old. His storytelling is so compelling, it draws you in and even with adults playing the children’s parts you are hooked. Amir is a rich Pashtun boy and his playmate Hassan (Jo Ben Ayed) the Hazara son of his father’s servant. Growing up together they have a strong bond, but class and race divide mean that Amir never really thinks of him as a friend or equal.
Hassan however would do anything for Amir and stands up to him when his is confronted by a group of local children lead by Assef (Soroosh Lavasini). Assef declares revenge on Hassan and after winning the local kite flying competition Assef and his gang surround Hassan and demand that he gives the kite to them. Hassan knows that winning the kite competition means everything to Amir as it was the one thing that made his father, Ali, who he calls Baba (Gary Pillai), proud of him and so he refuses. There follows a brutal assault on Hassan which seemed horribly real. Amir sees the attack and does nothing to stop it and his guilt turns into poisonous self hate. He can’t look at Hassan anymore without thinking of what he has done and therefore tries to get rid of him by planting stolen goods under his bed. Even though Amir’s father, Baba, forgives him after he wrongly admits theft, Hassan’s father who has been servant to the family for over forty years insist on leaving as Baba, crying, begs him and Hassan to stay.
Peaceful Kabul soon changes, and Amir and his father have to flee to a refugee camp in Pakistan where there are then transferred to America to start a new life. The once rich Baba is now reduced to working in a garage and buying and selling in flea markets which is where Amir meets the love of his life, Soraya (Ameira Darwish). I am not going to give away the second half of part two in case you haven’t read the book or seen the film, but it is filled with the emotions of love, death and redemption as Amir tries to make good the things he has done in the past.
The Kite Runner is a compelling and emotive adaption of the novel almost more like a story than a play in the traditional sense. From love and war to friendship and guilt everything is covered in the two and a half hours the play lasts. Interesting and alternative this performance had me glued to my seat from the moment it started.
We saw this production at The Hawth in Crawley which is easy to get to and has plenty of free parking. The bar area is comfortable and relaxing and well stocked with drinks, snacks and high-quality ice creams. A great theatre to watch a fantastically captivating show.
Rating: 5/5
Tickets cost from £25.50 to £31.50 (booking fees may apply).
The Kite Runner is at The Hawth in Crawley from 20-24 February 2018, for more information or to book tickets visit hawth.co.uk or call the box office on 01293 553636.
The Hawth, Hawth Avenue, Crawley, Sussex, RH10 6YZ | 01293 553636
