Singapore Repertory Theatre reprises identity drama Disgraced in a more polarised world
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In the play Disgraced, Ghafir Akbar plays the protagonist Amir, an American-born Muslim-raised lawyer who has cast aside his religious upbringing for his career.
ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
SINGAPORE – Actors Daniel Jenkins, 55, and Ghafir Akbar, 42, recall the “total devastation” their American cast members felt when they learnt, in the rehearsal room for Disgraced, that Mr Donald Trump had been elected US president on Nov 8, 2016.
Eight years later, Jenkins and Ghafir, who are returning to the show in different roles, feel a sense of deja vu. Mr Trump could become president again – and the issues raised by the dicey Pulitzer Prize-winning identity drama about race, religion and politics in the United States still ring loud and true.
Ghafir remembers that the post-show talks for the 2016 performance revolved around Mr Trump, with some members of the audience asking if the script, which first premiered in the US in 2012, was edited to reflect the times. “The way things resonated with them made it seem that we did.”
The 90-minute play takes place around a New York dinner party among four Americans with different racial and religious backgrounds. When the conversation turns to politics and religion, things get heated and prejudices are exposed.
Disgraced plays at the KC Arts Centre from Aug 13 to Sept 7. It is staged by the Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT), briefly called the Singapore Theatre Company
Ghafir plays the protagonist Amir, an American-born Muslim-raised lawyer who has cast aside his religious upbringing for his career. “He is trying to figure out: How do I survive in this world? The only way he can and has successfully done so over the years is to negate the way he was brought up.”
In the 2016 staging, SRT artistic director Gaurav Kripalani played Amir and Ghafir played Amir’s nephew Abe.
Ghafir admits that the role upgrade comes with some pressure, but says he has also learnt a thing or two from Gaurav, adding: “I was conscious to make sure to steal some of Gaurav’s good choices – and also make them my own.”
Ghafir, who comes to this role after snagging best actor at The Straits Times Life Theatre Awards 2024, adds: “I want to make Gaurav proud.”
Jenkins, who played the Jewish art dealer Isaac in 2016, is now director. The 2024 cast is rounded off by actors Simone Policano, Eboni Flowers, Jeremy Rishe and Shrey Bhargava.
Jenkins is cognisant that, although there are some constants from the previous production, the discourse has also shifted with the war in the Middle East.
Earlier this year, SRT staged Palestinian writer-actor Amer Hlehel’s Taha, a monologue about the late Palestinian poet Taha Muhammad Ali, which resonated with audiences as well.
“Eight years of history has happened in between,” Jenkins says. “We’re probably able to have conversations now that we were less likely to have then. But having said that, I think people are more likely to have extreme views. The middle ground seems to have faded slightly, and now we seem to be on either end of opinions.”
Ghafir Akbar (left) and Daniel Jenkins (right) were in the 2016 production of Disgraced. They reunite for the show in different roles in 2024.
ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
He sees his job as a director, however, as creating complex characters that are not easily loved or hated. “What the play does so well is that it looks at so many different points of view and doesn’t give you any answer. It doesn’t tell you this is the way you should think, this is the right one and this is the wrong one.”
“Without a doubt, theatre has a huge amount of power and responsibility,” he adds, saying that the experience of watching a show together and feeling empathy is a rare one today.
Asked why Singaporean audiences would resonate with an American story, Jenkins says: “Whatever America does, we respond to.”
Ghafir chimes in: “There is a value also in being outside of that world and being able to look at it more critically. You can reflect more easily when you’re not in that environment.”
There will be a post-show dialogue after each show to keep the conversation going. Jenkins says: “I wonder what the focus will be, if the focus will be more on the religious side of things. It would be interesting to see what has changed and how the audience feels.”
Ghafir agrees. “Something that’s quite electric about this play is that it really depends on the audience that you have that night.”
Whether it is an audience member leaning in closer to a sharp line or another clearing her throat in an awkward situation, the actor – focused as he is on his line – hears it all.
Book It/Disgraced
Where: KC Arts Centre – Home of SRT, 20 Merbau Road www.srt.com.sg/show/disgraced
When: Aug 13 to Sept 7; Tuesdays to Saturdays, 7.30pm, Sundays, 2pm
Admission: $25 to $78
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