Alter Ego Blog

NYTimes Review October 31
"Rajiv Joseph’s new play, “The Leopard and the Fox,” about the overthrow of Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto of Pakistan by the military in 1977, is so timely that daily headlines have made sick jokes of some of its lines. "

"..... inspired by a BBC teleplay and is keenly directed by Giovanna Sardelli...."

"..Mr. Sajadi breathes new life into the tired C.I.A. baddie role, and Mr. Monsef’s maddeningly arrogant, man-of-the-people charmer does a mesmerizing dance around his mulish, insecure general

As David Newell’s excellent, compact set underlines, the worlds these four men inhabit, though separated by great distances, are still far too close for comfort — much like this play and recent events."

http://theater2.nytimes.com/2007/10/31/theater/reviews/31leop.html

NPR
"Hear how a work of art tries to connect yesterday and today."
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15479962&sc=emaf

UltraBrown Friday Oct 19
"The story is a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the coup in which Zia Ul-Haq overthrew popular prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1979"
"...with Joseph's discussion of CIA espionage, the story was absolutely riveting"

NY Theatre Oct 17
"Giovanna Sardelli's direction is brisk and taut, making use of a unit set by David Newell that smartly lays out all of the play's many locations simultaneously, so that the frequent transitions are entirely seamless. Leon Dobkowski's costumes define place and period effectively, and Nick Francone's lighting serves the piece nicely. Ramiz Monsef and Gita Reddy, as Zulfikar and Benazir Bhutto respectively, turn in the most impressive performances, showing us the haughty sense of entitlement of these two along with their shrewd political sense and intelligence."

Posted by Amrita at 04:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

SAJA Board member Kiran Khalid is moderating this discussion. More on the
show here: http://www.sajaforum.org/2007/10/theater-the-leo.html

From: Kiran Khalid

Newsweek is describing Pakistan as the most dangerous country in the
world. Never has a play about one of Pakistan's most iconic and
controversial leaders been more relevant.

ALTER EGO PRESENTS THE LEOPARD AND THE FOX — RAJIV
JOSEPH'S PLAY ABOUT THE LAST DAYS OF PAKISTAN'S PRIME MINISTER
ZULFIQAR ALI BHUTTO AND HIS DAUGHTER, FORMER PRIME MINISTER BENAZIR
BHUTTO

There will be a talkback following the Sunday, October 28th matinee
(2PM)show featuring journalists Masood Haider of Dawn and Iftikhar
Ali of The Nation.

SAJA Board Member Kiran Khalid will moderate the timely discussion
about the future of this fragile democracy.

Tickets: $18, available at www.smarttix.com; or call 212-868-4444.
For press seats, contact:
Shourin Roy, 646-662-6057
shourinroy@alteregoproductions.org

Posted by Shourin Roy at 02:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

check them out here:-
http://picasaweb.google.com/amrita.rajagopal/TLATFPressPhotos

Posted by Amrita at 06:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Ignoring pleas from President Musharraf, Benazir Bhutto has decided to stick to her itinerary of arriving in Pakistan on October 18th. Musharaff, fresh off the presidential election "landslide" victory, had asked her not to return till the election results could be given the blessing in Novemeber by the Supreme Court. Both parties remain engaged in working out a power sharing deal while unrest continues...

We're excited to see how Benazir's return will be received and what impact it'll have on the perception of our play as well. It's going to be an interesting few weeks....

Dont forget to buy tickets to the show!!

Posted by Amrita at 05:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

As my friend over at the Council on Foreign Relations quotes in her recent article:-

Pakistani nuclear physicist Pervez Hoodbhoy sums it up in Foreign Policy: “All countries have armies, but in Pakistan things are reversed. Here, it is the Army that has a country.”

How true. Musharaff has created a promising future for himself and his army by appointing Lt. Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. But what happens to the country? What about the interests of the common man? What if Musharaff does get elected - will he direct foreign aid to the Pakistani people or the so called War on Terror?

Posted by Amrita at 08:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

ALTER EGO PRESENTS THE LEOPARD AND THE FOX — THE NEW PLAY BY RAJIV JOSEPH ABOUT THE LAST DAYS OF PAKISTAN’S PRIME MINISTER ZULFIQAR ALI BHUTTO AND HIS DAUGHTER, EXILED PRIME MINISTER BENAZIR BHUTTO, TODAY

[NEW YORK] Alter Ego presents The Leopard and The Fox, Rajiv Joseph’s timely political drama about the last days of Pakistan’s first popularly elected prime minister, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, at TBG Theater, October 17 – November 3. Giovanna Sardelli directs.

Inspired by Tariq Ali’s BBC screenplay, The Leopard and The Fox portrays the charismatic Zulfikar Ali Bhutto as he is overthrown in a coup by his army chief, General Zia ul-Haq, in the late 1970s. Joseph updates this story of betrayal and broken promises to include Bhutto’s daughter in 2007, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, as she negotiates with current president Pervez Musharraf to end her self-exile and attempt to share power.

In current headlines, Benazir Bhutto has vowed to return to Pakistan on October 18, one day after The Leopard and The Fox opens.

Alter Ego Productions is thrilled to present the world premiere of The Leopard and the Fox, their first collaboration with acclaimed playwright Rajiv Joseph. Joseph’s previous works include the much-lauded South Asian American coming of age story Huck and Holden at the Cherry Lane, and the romantic comedy All That Intimacy at Second Stage. He has upcoming commissions for both Second Stage and South Coast Repertory, and his Iraq war dramatic comedy Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo will be produced by Center Theatre Group at Los Angeles’ Kirk Douglas Theatre in the 2008-09 season. Director Giovanna Sardelli is a longtime collaborator of Joseph’s, directing both Huck and Holden and All That Intimacy, as well Bengal Tiger at the Lark theater earlier this year.

The cast features: Ramiz Monsef* (Big Stone in Second Stage’s sold-out run of Sarah Ruhl’s Eurydice), Andrew Guilarte (of Desipina & Co.’s popular 7Eleven play series), Gita Reddy (Topsy Turvy Mouse at the Cherry Lane Mentor Project), Sanjiv Jhaveri*, Rock Kohli*, Michael Crane* and David Sajadi*.
* appearing courtesy the Actors Equity Association. Equity approved Showcase.

Set Design is by David Newell, Costume Design by Leon Dobkowski, Lighting Design by Nick Francone and Sound & Music by Mitun Sinha. Production Stage Management by Matthew Enhoffer.

Performances: October 17 to November 3, 2007, Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 pm, with Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 pm.

Venue: TBG Theater, 312 W. 36th St (between 8th and 9th Avenues), New York City.

Tickets: $18, available at www.smarttix.com; or call 212-868-4444.
www.alteregoproductions.org

Posted by Shourin Roy at 08:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Pakistan Cabinet ministers have agreed to lift corruption charges facing exiled opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, paving her way for a return and possible power-sharing alliance with President Pervez Musharraf, one minister told CNN.
art.bhutto.gi.jpg

Exiled former Pakistnani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has pledged to return if charges against her are lifted.

Bhutto last week had said she would return if charges against her were lifted but indicated a widely discussed plan to shore up Musharraf's weakening power base was a non-starter unless the president abandoned his military role.

As per CNN >>

Posted by Shourin Roy at 03:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)