Review Fix chats with playwright Mohammed Saad Ali about his newest production “Canaan,†currently running at this year’s Midtown International Theatre Festival in New York City. Ali also breaks down the learning experience from his previous production, “Old Men are Full of S**t,†as well as his creative process.
Review Fix: What was the inspiration for the production? How did it all come together?
Mohammed Saad Ali: The inspiration for the production came from a drug-induced trance; which caused a deep reflection of my life and the lives of close friends and loved ones; which resulted in a severe existential crisis. This horrible event happened a few years ago, and I wrote a rough draft in a workshop sponsored by Genesis Repertory under the direction of Robert Liebowitz. It has since been workshopped at The M Center.
Review Fix: What do you think you learned from last year’s festival?
Ali: I learned about the business aspects of the arts, along with the stresses, depression but ultimately the incomparably wonderful joy of seeing amazingly talented people take your work and giving it a life of its own. Basically, I learned why producers are prone to heart attacks.
Review Fix: How is this production different from last year’s?
Ali: My characters have a wide range of obstacles to face. OLD MEN dealt with a more political problem to them: deportation. This family – a mixed religion family of Muslim and Jewish – is here legally, doesn’t mean it’s any easier.
Review Fix: What’s your writing process like?
Ali: Simple, I procrastinate till there are enough people yelling and threatening to cut all ties with me if I don’t do my damn job.
Review Fix: Who do you think will enjoy this production the most?
Ali: Brown people. …and their brethren communist liberal white people; but seriously though, I hope anyone can relate to the struggles of these characters, regardless of age and race. How much different are these immigrants than the Irish and Italians of the turn of the [20th] century; the Jews of pre/post WWII, or any other. I guess that’s the point of art.
Review Fix: What’s your favorite element of the show?
Ali: My award-winning writing. Yeah, I know what that sounds like but I’m not saying it to be funny or arrogant. I’ve written many pieces that stay in my drawer. Through the amazingly talented artists involved in this production, finally people are hearing my words and saying they connect with its message. This is a feeling I can’t describe.
Review Fix: How do you want the production to be remembered?
Ali: I hope it’s looked at as an honest representation of the struggles of youth and their feeling of abandonment from the establishment.   Â
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