Bashir is an refugee from Somalia in the UK. He is assigned to live with Kola in a halfway house. When he turns 18, he is detained and is being threatened with deportation because he didn’t legally become a citizen. He knows being deported to Somalia is vey dangerous. Somalia is currently on the US Department of State Do Not Travel List due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, health issues, kidnapping, and piracy.
Olufemi is a father who is doing everything he can to get back into the UK after being deported. This happened to him because he was in a bar fight. He decides to impersonate someone else to get back in.
Rachel De-Lahay has written an intense play exploring the difficulties involved with immigration. The audience is at the edge of their seats watching to see if the characters can win against the huge bureaucracy. This piece originally debuted at the Royal Court Theatre in London in 2013. It remains very relevant today after Brexit and the Trump Administration immigration policy changes.
Terry Bell (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime at Steppenwolf) is great as Bashir struggling to stay in the only country where he knows anyone and to avoid deportation to a violent country. Yao Dogbe is excellent as Olufemi, fighting to get back to his family. TJ Thomas (Deck the Hallmark) is great as Kola, who becomes a great friend to Bashir. Kristin E. Ellis, Evelyn Lockley, and Kevin Tre’Von Patterson (The Recommendation) are all solid in their roles.
Cost of a ticket: $33
PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It
Rating Scale: Exceptional Value > Worth It > Half Price > Go for Free > Don’t Bother
Get tickets now for Routes through November 20th!
Also, catch Remy Bumppo’s next production, Anna in the Tropics, starting February 8th!
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