Bars and Measures

Reviewed by Neal Weaver
Boston Court Theatre
Through October 23

RECOMMENDED

Bars and measures are, of course, musical terms. But they also evoke thoughts of prison bars and desperate measures. Both references are relevant in Idris Goodwin’s play.

The piece focuses on two African-American brothers, Bilal (Matt Orduña), who is Muslim, and Eric (Donathan Walters), who is Christian. Bilal is a jazzman — a bass player and composer — while Eric is a classical musician. Bilal has always been the dominant brother, with strong opinions; he believes that jazz is the black man’s classical music, kept alive by its dynamic improvisational style, as opposed to Eric’s preferred classics, which he regards as dead men’s music, played by rote.

Music is not the only thing the brothers differ over. Bilal is in jail, awaiting trial as a suspected terrorist. Meanwhile, Eric remains loyal, organizing a benefit concert to raise money for Bilal’s defense fund. In that he’s assisted by Sylvia (Zehra Fazal), a young Muslim singer in whom he’s romantically interested.

But Bilal soon collapses of malnutrition, brought on by the fact that in order to break him down, his captors have illegally served him foods proscribed by the Muslim faith. Shortly thereafter, he is brought to trial and found guilty: The fact that he gave money to his mosque is portrayed as a contribution to a terrorist organization. The guilty verdict shatters Eric’s faith in Bilal, and the conflicts between them escalate.

Goodwin’s script personalizes and dramatizes the scapegoating of a Muslim person in an overwhelmingly Christian society by casting it as a family drama, a conflict between brothers. The play becomes an indictment of the paranoia and unreasoning violence toward Muslims in our society and government. And the interweaving of music and politics within the story makes for a rich tapestry.

Canadian director Weyni Mengesha fashions a brisk and beautifully cast production. Walters and  Orduña provide sharply contrasting portraits of the two brothers, capturing the love and respect they share,  and the sharpening conflict between them. Fazal is effective as Sylvia, and also as Bilal’s defense attorney. And Brian Abraham scores in multiple roles: as a prison guard, as an FBI agent posing as a Muslim brother, and as the ruthless prosecuting attorney.

Francois-Pierre Couture designed the elaborately minimalist set, all in black, white and chrome, with the rich brown of Bilal’s bass fiddle providing the only touch of color.

The Theatre@Boston Court, 70 North Mentor Avenue, Pasadena. Thurs.-Sat., 8 p.m., Sun., 2 p.m.; additional Wednesday performance on October 19. (626) 683-6883. Running time:  one hour and 15 minutes with no intermission.