Theater Thursday - Heartland

We were given complimentary tickets to Heartland for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

What: Heartland

Where: 59E59 Theatres

             59 E. 59 St.

             New York, NY

Who: Recommended for Ages 12 and Up

When: Through April 10, 2022

Heartland is the story of retired professor, Harold Banks, and Nazrullah, an Afghani man sent by his daughter, Geettee to take care of him. She was recently killed in an attack in Afghanistan, the land of her birth, where she had gone to teach after learning a dark secret about the truth of her adoption. The story goes back and forth between the present day in the United States and the relationship between the two men and the past in Afghanistan and the developing relationship between Nazrullah and Geetee.  

The story is shocking and yet at the same time not exactly shocking. The relationship between the two men never really completely gels for reasons that become apparent nor does the relationship between father and daughter. Harold is a kind of gruff and not all that likable character even before anything is revealed. The relationship between Geetee and Nazrullah is touching and bittersweet, however. 

The play is clearly meant to remind us that when it comes to foreign affairs the Americans are not always the good guys, and this particular production at this particular time is clearly meant to remind us that even though the world is focused on Ukraine right now, there are ongoing problems in other parts of the world that also still need to be addressed. However, on the whole, the after the curtain call plea is heavy-handed and leaves us feeling manipulated which distracts from the message the show is trying to get across.

And that's our view. For more about Heartland or to purchase tickets, visit www.59e59.org/shows/show-detail/heartland.

Tune in Saturday for Still More Theater Saturday.

Photo credits: All Heartland production photos by  Carol Rosegg