A Distinct Society at PTC

At my last Utah Symphony concert the cute ladies that I sit with absolutely raved about PTC's production of A Distinct Society. I was already intrigued by the show and their endorsement made me even more excited to see it. I had the chance last night and I really loved this exploration of how ideologies and borders impact relationships. The Haskell Free Library is located on the border between Vermont and Quebec making the question of who has jurisdiction over it, the United States or Canada, somewhat hazy. The librarian, Manon (Carrie Paff), is a French-Canadian and a staunch Separatist who regrets damaging her relationship with her father over her extremist beliefs so she writes an anonymous Facebook post, using the nom de guerre Elizabeth Bennett, inviting those affected by the so-called Muslim ban to come to Canada to reunite with their loved ones living in the U.S. at the library. Peyman (Abdullah Khalil) travels from Tehran to Montreal and makes arrangements to meet his daughter Shirin (Vaneh Assadourian), a medical student based in Boston, at the library. However, Customs and Border Patrol is cracking down on these reunions and Bruce (Corey Jones) is assigned to the area. He is sympathetic to the plight of these families, especially Peyman and Shirin, but he is determined to follow the letter of the law after having been disciplined for being lax in the past. Sixteen-year-old Declan (Emmet Smith) is an immigrant to Canada from Northern Ireland and a frequent visitor to the library.  He says that he travels several hours to read the graphic novels he can't find anywhere else but it is really so he can symbolically escape the bullying he faces in Quebec for refusing to speak French. Their interactions with each other are motivated by kindness, understanding, shared experiences (I particularly enjoyed the references to The Green Lantern), and even the possibility of a new romance but will policies determined to keep them apart prevail? I found the story to be incredibly powerful and compelling but the resolution was a bit disappointing because it feels very rushed (it actually took me a minute to realize that the play had ended). The narrative takes its time to reveal the backstory of each character little by little and, as a result, I was very invested in each of them and I wanted to know more about the consequences of their actions, especially Manon's decision to allow Peyman and Shirin to meet. Having said that, I really enjoyed this production. The cast is outstanding and everyone gives a very heart-felt performance. I particularly enjoyed the chemistry between Paff and Jones and the palpable vulnerability displayed by Smith. I also really loved the set of the library which includes bookcases surrounding the proscenium, library carts full of books, cozy leather chairs and sofas, a child-sized table and chairs, and lots of fun details (the line on the floor separating the U.S. and Canada is hilarious). I was very moved by the themes of belonging, which feel very relevant today, and I definitely recommend it.  There are only a few more performances so get your tickets (go here) soon.