Your Chicago Guide’s tickets for two to the press viewing of The Cave courtesy of A Red Orchid Theatre.
Amidst breaking news of the first Gulf War, tragedy forces a Palestinian-American family to move from Las Vegas to Columbus, Ohio, upending their lives. Jamil struggles to hold himself and his family together as the world becomes unbalanced and terror can no longer be buried behind closed doors. A Red Orchid Theatre’s ensemble member Sadieh Rifai’s thriller of a new play examines how a family across cultures and generations leans into love and humor in the face of global turmoil and a fracturing American dream.
Dad is Palestinian. Mom is American. Dema is the oldest daughter, struggling to find her sense of self in the environment rife with dualities and double standards. While her younger sister Noor seems to forge her path rather confidently, Dema’s life is upended when her family moves to Ohio. While Dema rapidly approaches puberty and the first war in the Gulf intensifies, her father Jamil’s mental health deteriorates. The world around her gets physically and emotionally darker as truths are revealed and everything around her shatters.
The Cave focuses on Jamil’s descent into madness. He hears things and is paranoid about someone following him. No matter where he is in the world, the war and its harsh realities have found him. Witnessing this mild mannered character as he loses his mind is disturbing and unsettling. So much so, that the comic relief, at the start of the play almost cartoonish, becomes absolutely necessary for the audience. The play is a tad long and can use some editing, but the storyline and acting are both compelling enough to keep the viewers’ attention. There’s a lot of love in this family, lots of inside jokes and fun, as well as the passion between Jamil and Bonnie, who converted to Islam to marry him. You want this family to succeed.
Adding to the feeling of unease in the tiny Red Orchid space is television news about Operation Desert Storm, projected onto the stage during scene changes. Flickering on the kitchen cabinets are images of George H. W. Bush, explosions and crowds of refugees. “You still think you’re the good guys,” Jamil tells Bonnie—a line even more resonant now than it was in 1990. The tension is heavy, also in part due to the gang-related death of a young cousin back in Las Vegas. The girls continue mourning him, creating a makeshift shrine. Noor seems most affected, giving the appearance that she was very close with her cousin.
The play is infinitely worth seeing despite the need for a little editing. With the regular run sold out, it has now been extended through March 23, 2025. Grab your ticket while you still can, and immerse yourself in this heartbreaking family drama, pointed, visceral, political, and at times hysterically funny.
The Cave in now on stage through March 23, 2025, at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 North Wells Street, in the heart of Chicago’s Old Town. Tickets are available here.