October 28, 2009
By Kathleen Tobin
The decision of Jamil Khoury, artistic director of Silk Road Theatre Project, to offer an original show, “Silk Road Cabaret: Broadway Sings the Silk Road,” as a “playful and ironic twist” to the multi-cultural mission of the company was a thoughtful choice.
It also is a very charming way to spend a 70-minute evening listening to songs from popular Broadway shows that are set in locations along the ancient Silk Road and sung by a talented multi-cultural cast.
From well-known shows such as “Pacific Overtures,” “Kismet,” “Miss Saigon” and “The King and I,” to lesser known shows like “Bombay Dreams,” “Chu Chin Chow” and “Sita Ram,” the Silk Road ensemble brings a wealth of music to this world-premiere cabaret-style show, along with some poignant, personal insights into the background of the singers themselves.
Silk Road Theatre Project is the nation’s first theater company dedicated to represent such a diverse group of people and cultures. The aim of the project is to showcase performers and playwrights of Asian, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean backgrounds whose work addresses themes relevant to these cultures placed in the world scheme.
Founded by Malik Gillani and Khoury as a creative response to the attacks of September 11, 2001, and the antitrust and anti-Muslim sentiments that swept the U.S. in its wake, the company dedicates itself to educate, promote dialogue and heal rifts through the transformative power of theater.
The seven-person ensemble, Christine Bunuan, Dipika Cherala, Katherine L. Condit, Joseph Anthony Foronda, Erik Kaiko, Govind Kumar and David Rhee, perform from three stages sprinkled among the candle-lit cabaret tables. They amble freely through the crowd, from stage to stage, introducing their songs with personal anecdotes from their own life experiences.
It is a truly charming as well as thought-provoking experience.