I encourage all to make a pilgrimage to ACT Theatre for “Pilgrims Musa and Sheri in the New World.”
The show was a talisman of delights, a living charm bracelet with trinkets of bright dialogue strung together on a shiny chain.
When I first read about this world premiere, I stopped myself from rolling my eyes and thinking, Oh God another topical play about immigrants trying to make it in the free world.
But this hilarious, romantic comedy goes a continent beyond that.
It’s not just the discovery of first love, which in this case is goofy and fresh and lively and sexy, but the discovery of one’s self where the big aha moment isn’t just ‘discovered’ but claimed loud and clear, in lingo we all get and as genuine as a hunk of pure silver.
Thank you director Anita Montgomery for making the nuances, humor and depth of Yussef El Guindi’s story sparkle on stage.
The story is set in Brooklyn and set in motion by the enthusiastic and physical acting of Carol Roscoe (you can tell she’s done a lot of children’s theater), who is street wise and snarky Sheri.
She is in the apartment of love-struck Musa, played wonderfully by Shanga Parker.
Sheri and Musa dangle their as yet unrequited love – and lust – in this first night together and I was swept up in their hilarious back and forth. They make their way through some rather awkward moments, including a first-date nightmare that should only happen in a playwrights’ script.
Sheri, a waitress, hangs herself out there like clothes on a wash line.
“In about five minutes I’m going to be a cinch to bang,” she says.
And Musa, a taxi driver, isn’t a foreigner in the land of deadpan humor.
“Stop talking about God. I want to relax,” Musa says.
These two are head over heels in love but also headed for trouble, like a cab careening out of control. You’ll have to catch this show to see what I mean.
Stunning supporting roles were given by Anthony Leroy Fuller as Abdallah, Sylvester Foday Kamara as Tayyib and Kimberly Sustad as Gamila.
There is a line in the show that reads “No one should see love until the silliness of love has worn off.”
Not true in this case.
“Pilgrims” is a great way to celebrate the silliness of love and the seriousness of shedding falsehoods and finding one’s true identity.
“Pilgrims Musa and Sheri in the New World” performs at 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday; 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday with select shows 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday to July 17 at ACT Theatre, 700 Union St., Seattle. Adult tickets start at $37.50. Call 206-292-7676 or go to
ACT Theatre.
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