The Kite Runner – Gaiety Theatre – Review

The Kite Runner – Adapted by Matthew Spangler – Directed by Giles Croft
Running time: Act 1: 53 mins – Interval: 20 mins – Act: 72 mins

DATES: 2nd Apr. – 6th Apr.

We meet Amir (Stuart Vincent) and Hassan (Yazdan Qafouri) playing on the streets of Kabul, Afghanistan, in the 1970s. They are a couple of young friends playing chasing and pretending to be cowboys. They have fallen in love with Cowboy movies, with John Wayne and Charles Bronson their favourites. Despite their outward appearance, their relationship is slightly unusual. Amir is from a well-off family and Hassan is the son of Ali, Amir’s father’s servant. Their relationship is more than master and servant but they do not feel like equals. Assef (Bhavin Bhatt) is an older boy who lives close to Amir and Hassan. Assef is a bully who seems to take pleasure in teasing and torturing the boys. When Assef traps Hassan alone, Amir decides to run away and not stay and fight for his friend. It is a decision that will haunt him for the rest of his life.

This is a play based on Khaled Hosseini’s international bestselling novel, which was published in 2003. The novel was a worldwide success and sold over 10 million copies, and was translated into 35 languages. The Kite Runner is not based on a true story but has autobiographical elements, as the writer was born in Kabul and later moved to the United States. The book was adapted for the stage by Matthew Spangler and first staged in the San Jose Repertory Theatre in 2009. This new production is touring the UK, with this short run in the Gaiety Theatre its only Irish date.

The set is adaptable with projections onto the back wall of the set although much is left to the imagination. There are some nice touches with the kite battles which form a pivotal part of the story.

Stuart Vincent as Amir is at the centre of the production and acts as the narrator throughout. The ensemble cast plays a variety of roles to fill out the story, as we meet residents of Kabul and San Francisco, as well as those encountered on their travels.

The play is broken into two distinct halves, with the First Act Amir’s childhood in Kabul and the Second Act after the interval largely his time as an adult in America. The First Act is more exciting, as we meet this young man in unusual circumstances and follow his plight. It is an immigrant’s tale and will resonate with many stories of our times on various news channels. It is also a story of redemption, with Amir atoning for the mistakes he made early in his life. It is a warm and generous story that will resonate with many and this production brings new life to the much loved tale.