On Theater: ‘Zealot’ a zenith for SCR

Of all the world premieres unveiled at South Coast Repertory over the years, few have approached the level of dramatic conflict or its effect on society that Theresa Rebeck has achieved with her superbly structured drama “Zealot.”

Rebeck presents a situation perilously close to the realm of possibility set in the already unstable Middle East, Saudi Arabia to be precise. It unfolds during the Hajj, the holiest of Islamic pilgrimages, in Mecca, the centerpiece of Islam, and stirs political turmoil challenging the U.S. and British presence in that region.

Director Marc Masterson, in his most impressive outing since becoming SCR’s artistic director, brings this tension to a boil with the repeated confrontations, particularly between two allies with differing views of the simmering situation. Their head-to-head interactions boost the temperature on stage immeasurably.

The drama is centered in Mecca’s British consulate, where a newly arrived American undersecretary of state (Charlayne Woodard) is paying a courtesy call on England’s consul (Alan Smyth). The meeting starts out amicably enough with tea and crumpets, but soon transforms into blatant hostility.

The reason for all this tension is a young Iranian woman (Nikki Massoud), who was part of a nonviolent protest in Mecca’s Grand Mosque, where several other women committed the ultimate heresy — removing their head scarves. Her task is to bear witness to the event, and she’s seeking asylum in the United States, where she had spent a year in college.

Ann, the U.S. undersecretary, is determined to see her request granted, but Smyth’s Edgar takes a contrary approach. He’s spent a decade in his assignment there, and he sides with the Arabs’ position and favors the woman’s arrest.

Brilliant performances emerge, particularly from Smyth as he transforms his British reserve into unleashed opposition. He is, we are shown, a decent enough fellow under normal circumstances, but he realizes that to capitulate would undermine his future as a diplomat in the Middle East.

Woodard is equally determined, and she presses her case with passion. She also is African American and a Muslim, and this tends to inform her actions. Her clashes with Smyth produce some of the finest acting SCR audiences have yet witnessed.

Also weighing in on the side of the home team is Demosthenes Chrysan as a fiery Muslim elder, determined that the Iranian woman should be punished for her “sacrilege.” It’s perhaps regrettable that his character name, Usama, is just one letter away from that of the ultimate terrorist.

As the young woman involved, Massoud exhibits a subdued sense of dedication to her unpopular cause behind her inherent reserve. Adam El-Sharkawi completes the cast as the consul’s intense but diplomatic aide.

Ralph Funicello’s handsome consulate setting functions as an imposing backdrop for the high drama. Alex Jaeger’s costume design and Russell H. Champa’s lighting contribute significantly to the overall production.

“Zealot” is a powerful world premiere, and its creator, Rebeck, certainly will be discussed by those who determine the Pulitzer Prize for drama. It’s the year’s finest production mounted on the stage of South Coast Repertory.

TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Daily Pilot.

Where: South Coast Repertory, Segerstrom Stage, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa

When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 2:30 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 16 (no evening performance on final day)

Cost: Tickets start at $22

Information: (714) 708-5555 or https://www.scr.org