My Review: Broadway's "The Kite Runner"

The show: “The Kite Runner” by Matthew Spangler at Helen Haynes Theatre, NYC

What is it?: Play based on Khaled Hosseini’s fictional memoir and popular debut novel in 2003 about two Afghan boys in the mid-‘70s. It was also the basis of a 2007 film. Tearjerkers all, including this adaptation.

What makes it special?: It was a hit when it premiered in London in 2016.

And here? : It probably won’t have the same response, at least judging from the mixed reviews, but it’s still a lively production and in this small-sized theater could do well. The audience for the performance I was at clearly loved it. But it might do better perhaps at the regionals. Still, a saga centered ion Afghans characters landing on Broadway is still to be applauded.

What’s it about?: Amir, married and living in San Francisco, receives a strange call from a family friend back in his native Afghanistan:. Then flashback to Amir’s 12-year-old childhood in mid-1970s Kabul. which included certain incidents that resulted in. his present guilt and haunting shame from a failure to protect a friend, Hazara, the son of the Hazaran servant in Amir’s wealthy Pashtun family.. The action of the play takes place just before and including Russia’s invasion of Afghanistan which then ushers in the regime of the Taliban.

The narrative jumps back and forth in time but the audience ‘s view of this narrator is not exactly warm, when his sense of entitlement and selfishness becomes evident, especially in the first act . But redemption will eventually arrive in the adult Amir’s efforts for “a way to be good again.” For many, it will not come soon enough. For others, far too late.

So what did you think?: When you transfer a n novel to the stage one has to think theatrically, not literally and here there’s a lot of first person exposition, and dialogue straight from the book, bringing to mind a live action Books on Tape. But in this production at least there are more sustained scenes than in most narrative theater productions that I have seen.. Naturally, these scenes are the most compelling.

And the production?: Simply and sparsely presented by set designer Barney George, but this could be a good case where bolder imagery could more strongly supplement the show with a headier sense of place. The projections by William Simpson are OK but one could imagine more atmospheric help here.

Adding to the atmosphere is an on-stage tabla artist Salar Nader and Drew Baumohl’s soundscape, Also, if you think this will be a spare two or three-hander like many narrative dramas, at least this production doesn’t scrimp. There’s 18 in the cast playing more than two-dozen characters.

Directed by Giles Croft Hassan, the cast is strong, especially Eric Sirakian as the servant Hassan and later his son Sohrab and Faran Tahir as Amir’s father. Amir Arison (of NBC’s “The Blacklist.”) has the nearly impossible task of having the audience not hate you for 90 percent off the play but performs the task while giving the character complexity and understanding.

Who will like it?: Sentimentalists. uplift addicts, supporters of more diverse storytelling.

Who won’t?: Those who are averse to overdone narrative theatre .

For the kids?: Could be a great teaching moment and lead to cultural conversations.

Thoughts own the train back from NYC: It may have been a mistake to cast Arison as his character’s 12-year- old self, despite his fully committed performance. Casting an actual tween the young boy would have made the work more relatable, human and bring a greater measure of understanding to the character.

Info: The two-act play is at the he 597-seat Helen Hayes Theater, 240 W. 44th St.Top ticket his $159. It opened July 21, Running time: 2 HOURS, 30 MIN.. Closing Oct. 30.