[ A One act ribald, politically incorrect, comedic satire]

ALL THIS FOR AN ASS?

Wajahat Ali

A Moorish Jester frolicking and jigging in the left corner of the stage; two noblemen looking quite noble doing noble things center stage; a water boy in a nubile servant costume continuously pouring water into mugs with his water jug.

Jester jigs his way to front center stage: he smiles a perverted, jesterish smile and widens his arms as to welcome the audience. (more…)

[In honor of the end of the Bush Administration, I share with you this piece from 2004 written after the invasion of Iraq. Starring Hall of Famers Bush II, Colin Powell and Ashcroft.]

By Wajahat Ali

Characters:

[G.B] (Kind of hyper, a little dumb, like Yosemite Sam)

[C.P] (Kind of calm and repressed emotions – much like Smithers or Sideshow Bob from The Simpsons)

Locations:

An Office that might be Oval.

Also a prestigious Hall.

(more…)

Wajahat Ali

SCENE 1: NO FIGHTING IN THE WAR ROOM

TIME: Circa 2006

LOCATION: THE UNITED STATES

NARRATOR

The Curtains are raised and we see a darkened stage. Lights fade in. The scene begins in “THE WAR ROOM” a shadowy enclave hidden deep in the recesses of the nation’s Pentagon complex. A cool, chic black wooden conference table (Looks at the audience right before he says - ), made in Japan, sits in the middle of the football shaped room replete with a highly advanced, 360 degree, virtual reality digital map of the World adorning all sides of the room. A dimly lit light, (Looks at the audience), made in Korea hangs from the ceiling creating a dark, shadowy “war room-esque” atmosphere. There is also a mechanical horsie (Looks at the audience), Made in Mexico, located in the “play” corner. This notorious room is used by the nation’s political dignitaries only when discussing the most urgent, pressing matters of national security.

PRESIDENT

Bang Bang I got ya, ya yellar’ bellied Infidel. Now fall down…fall down. (Annoyed like a petulant child) Not like that, like the way I showed ya’, like Saddam’s statute. Bang Bang!

NARRATOR

Barked the 2nd term President to his illustrious Cabinet member, Secretary of Defense RAMstead, after firing play darts from his plastic pistols.

RAMSTEAD

Sir…please we don’t have time to play “Cowboys and Terrorists”, we (Exhales a deep sigh)…Fine.

(more…)

“THE DOMESTIC CRUSADERS” [www.domesticcrusaders.com]

• “Domestic Crusaders”  should be ranked with family dramas written by Tennessee Williams and Eugene O’Neil.”
  • Ishmael Reed, MacArthur Genius, Pulitzer nominated author/poet of “Mumbo Jumbo”

•   “Wajahat Ali is a major new voice in American literature. His  play is to Muslim American theatre what A Raisin in the Sun is to African American theatre.” 
  • Mitch Berman, head of  the Center for Literary Arts

•  This play could change the history of American theater, and of America itself.
  • Lawrence Swaim, In Focus Magazine.

Who are The Domestic Crusaders?

The Domestic Crusaders focuses on one day in the life of a modern Muslim Pakistani-American family of six eclectic, unique members, who convene at the family house to celebrate the twenty-first birthday of the youngest child.

With a background of 9-11 and the scapegoating of Muslim Americans, the tensions and sparks fly among the three generations, culminating in an intense family battle as each “crusaders” struggles to assert and impose their respective voices and opinions, while still attempting to maintain and understand that unifying thread that makes them part of the same family.

The three generations of the family include: the grandfather, Hakim, a retired, Pakistani army official who harbors a terrible secret; Salman, his son, a middle-aged corporate engineer trying to maintain his pride and self-respect; Khulsoom, Salman’s wife, longing for her homeland and wishing to impart her traditions, values, and morals to her American-born children; Salahuddin, the eldest child, stubbornly clinging to his ideals of success, as well as his anger and resentment towards his father; Fatima, the middle child, passionately advocating her Islamic identity, while rejecting the traditional stereotypes and biases of her mother; Ghafur, the youngest, the golden child abandoning his family’s expectations in order to discover his own path. These individuals are “The Domestic Crusaders”!

 www.domesticcrusaders.com