Michele Lowe Playwright

Kimberly Senior ~ ^ Director

Cast

Behzad Dabu * + Mohammad Zara, Messenger

Anish Jethmalani * + Emad Al-Bayit

Demetrios Troy * ^ Yasin Shalid

Atra Asdou Shali Shalid

Arya Daire Mena Mohammed, Hama Shalid

Frank Sawa Abdel Hakim-Taliq

Michael B. Woods Waiter, Dominic Croft

Production Team

Collette Pollard # ^ Scenic Designer

Charles Cooper # ^ Lighting Designer

Mikhail Fiksel # ^ Sound Designer

Eva Breneman ^ Dialect Coach

Maren Robinson + Dramaturg
Sammi Grant Assistant Dialect Coach
Samantha C. Jones # Costume Designer
Sarah Burnham Properties Designer
Ari Clouse * Stage Manager
Erin Shea Brady Assistant Director
Cordie Nelson Production Assistant
Dina Spoerl Lobby Display Designer

Understudies

Anu Bhatt Shali Shalid, Mena Mohammed, Hama Shalid

Andrew L. Saenz Mohammed Zara, Messenger, Abdel-Hakim Taliq

Kaelan Strouse Waiter, Dominic Croft

Joseph Sultani Yasin Shalid, Emad Al-Bayit

Reviews

Chicago Tribune

May 18, 2015

“Wars have collateral damage, life has no guarantees, and understandings in the Middle East are notoriously unenforceable. The new play at TimeLine Theatre makes all of that very clear. … Classy and well-paced … Inana conveys the bravery of those who risked their lives for all that had gone before.”

—Chris Jones

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Chicago Theatre Review

May 17, 2015

RECOMMENDED. “Once again TimeLine Theatre has made a forgotten, little understood event from the recent past feel relevant and immediate. This play is a fascinating puzzle box of events and involvements, peopled with quirky, likable characters who, thanks to Kimberly Senior’s astute direction, bring humanity to the anonymity of history. Flavoring this obscure event from the past with love, loss, real individuals and precious, priceless works of art, TimeLine has brought history to life once more.“

—Colin Douglas

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Stage and Cinema

May 15, 2015

“Apart from the prevention of plunder and the intrigue of disappearing idols, [Michele] Lowe’s love story captivates our curiosity … Few plays sort stuff out as satisfactorily as Inana. As with many plays from TimeLine Theatre, this is valuable make-believe, reminding us that there are kindred souls among our supposed enemies.“

—Lawrence Bommer

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NewCity

May 16, 2015

RECOMMENDED. “An ambitious and engrossing love story under the guise of a historical thriller, Inana is about the romance between a man and his country, seeking to articulate a specific and yet sadly familiar political context—a grossly misunderstood country on the verge of becoming the focal point of a misguided, self-righteous and not altogether coveted emancipation—while simultaneously exploring the intersections of history, religion and art. … As it turns out, there is much to learn if we let those so accustomed to obstruction speak their piece.”

—Kevin Greene

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Chicago Stage Standard

May 15, 2015

“TimeLine Theatre Company and playwright Michele Lowe set out to tell a story of love and hope. Thanks to a fantastic script, outstanding performances, and Kimberly Senior’s deft directorial hand at the helm, this production absolutely delivers on that.“

—Jerald Raymond Pierce

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Windy City Times

May 20, 2015

“In a mere ninety minutes, [Michele] Lowe combines elements of all three genres to present playgoers with their choice of narrative entryways onto paths all ultimately leading to wonder and admiration at the sacrifices undertaken by humble citizens to ascertain the perpetuity of their culture. … [Director Kimberly Senior] is assisted by the precision reflected in the environmental design, and by an ensemble delivering unexaggerated, immediately sympathetic, portrayals of lone individuals caught up in extraordinary circumstances demanding courage.“

—Mary Shen Barnidge

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Gapers Block

May 18, 2015

“A ripped-from-the-headlines love story … Kimberly Senior’s direction succeeds in making this a lesson in recent history as well as a memorable personal story. … [Demetrios] Troy provides a warm, smart performance as the dedicated museum curator and new husband. [Atra] Asdou is sad and charming as his new wife; their relationship is sweet and nuanced.”

—Nancy Bishop

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BuzzNews

May 16, 2015

“Director Kimberly Senior arranges her stage in a way that compliments Lowe’s non-linear script. … TimeLine has assembled a talented cast of Chicago actors, but it’s really Atra Asdou in the role of Shali on which this show hinges. Asdou is a gifted reactionary actress, every little offense Yasin commits registers on her face, and a single tear hangs in her eyes throughout the show. In many aspects Asdou and [Demetrios] Troy’s interaction begins as a comedy of errors, but ends a bittersweet love story. Some explosive dialogue builds in between and the chemistry is thrilling.”

—John Accrocco

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Ada Grey Reviews For You

May 21, 2015

“I thought this was an amazing show. It was very educational, but in a good way. …It is very exciting because it is like an adventure story because it is kind of like Indiana Jones, except instead of trying to find artifacts, this is about trying to preserve artifacts. … People who would like this show are people who like artifacts, suspense, and lingerie that your wife won’t let you see.“

—Ada Grey

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