(OUTview NW) RE-view: ACT's Threesome Goes from Bedroom Farce to Political Statement for Gender Equality!

Someone is Hiding Something BIG!          Scandiuzzi

by MK Scott


When I first heard about ACT's new production of Threesome, I was curious especially since it was written by a Muslim and the 2 main characters are from Egypt and their mission is to have a Threesome. OK, a Rare Sex Comedy with Muslim twist? What we get is 2 Genres for the price of one. 

As the lights rise on Yussef  El Guindi's play at Seattle's ACT Theater, this past weekend, we see Rashid (Karan Oberoi), an Egyptian-American photographer, and his Girlfriend, Leila (Alia Attallah), a westernized Egyptian writer now living in America. Leila has written a book on Sexual Politics during the Egyptian Revolution, and so she pushes Rashid to go along with this experiment. A Threesome.

Soon they are joined by the somewhat annoying, American, Doug (Quinn Franzen), who is appropriately attired  (Full Frontal of course).. So Doug gets in the Middle of the Bed, with a still clothed, Leila, on one side as she forces Rashid to get into the other side with Doug. Rashid is clearly uncomfortable and slowly takes his shirt off and his boxers off and fold them neatly on the Night stand. Doug truly starts to initiate. But Rashid Panics and both are stunned that Doug has read the book and his the Publishing company's official Photographer to take the official cover of the book.

What Now?                             Scandiuzzi

As I noticed that Leila was still protective and wore her clothes like Body armor. Rashid was quite shy as he removed his clothes from under the covers. While the American is quite endowed and had no problem in exposing him self as he dances around the room.


In Act 2, I was expecting for the comedy to continue but what you get is a serious statement about Politics.  That is, we soon find ourselves enmeshed in complex sexual and gender politics as well as troubling geopolitical concerns. As the play explores a tangle of conceptions and misconceptions about gender, the Middle East and U.S. perceptions about the Middle East, we can't help but see that Leila's search for individual dignity is ultimately what is most significant in this thought-provoking and disturbing play.

Scandiuzzi

Doug, who is making small talk, through a photo shoot for the cover of Leila's controversial book about her experiences as an Arab woman, tells her he wants to photograph her in a traditional abaya and veil. This is the very strategy El Guindi has employed when using popular bedroom farce to draw the audience into the world of his play. It is more to keep her silent as she conceals her Identity.

Rashid shows up drunk and is stunned that Lelia never wanted him to be the Photographer and would ashamed of Rashid reading the book and learning of Lelia's experience of being Raped during the Revolution. Rashid even taunts Doug about what could have happened during the Threesome.

After Rashid Leaves, Lelia puts on the abaya and veil and is silent as Doug talks about a sexual encounter with an Arab Woman and how she didn't say No to an offer to be paid. Leila starts to lose it and goes back to own sexual assault as strips away the Barrier once and for all.

Threesome continues at ACT Through June 28th. Chick HERE for More info and Tix!