The Ally, a play now on stage at Theater Wit, is a diatribe more than a drama. The script by Itamar Moses (book for The Band’s Visit) puts a university professor of writing in the cross-hairs of a series of angry debates—yes, shouting matches—about issues relating to Israel and Palestine. The result is an evening that can be either interesting or unpleasant, depending on your interest in and knowledge of the subject matter. For me, the only way to improve those two-plus hours would be by cutting them by half. The Ally, a finalist for the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, is directed by Jeremy Wechsler, founder and artistic director of Theater Wit.
Some parts of the play do reflect human relationships. Asaf, the professor played by Jordan Lane Shappell, has some agreeable scenes with his wife Gwen (K Chinthana Sotakoun), a university administrator. She tries to convince Asaf that he needs to get out of the house more, perhaps volunteer in the community. For now, he teaches one class one day a week and spends the rest of his time working on his next play. Their relationship shifts when the debates swirling around her husband make her job more difficult.
It begins when Baron (DeVaughn Asante Loman), a student in his playwriting class, asks Asaf to sign a petition demanding official action after Baron’s cousin is killed by police. Asaf is sympathetic but when he reads the long petition he finds it includes a statement against the state of Israel, accusing it of being an ”apartheid state” and of committing genocide. He objects to those terms, but objects even more to Israel being the only country singled out in the petition. He also learns that the activist who has written the petition and is organizing the protest is Nakia (Sharyon Culberson), a woman he had a relationship with 20 years ago.
During his professorial office hours, Asaf is visited by students—both Jewish and Palestinian—demanding that he support various issues involving Israel and Palestine. But Asaf, whose parents emigrated from Israel, says he subscribes to the “acoustic-guitar-based variety” of Judaism. And he wants to take time to consider the issues they confront him with.
In the tense scenes that follow, all the characters expound different perspectives on the state of Israel.
The students are Rachel (Mira Kessler), a Jewish undergraduate; Farid ( Eliyah Arman Ghaeini), a Palestinian-American undergrad; and Reuven (Evan Ozer), a PhD candidate in Judaic studies.
After these characters and their issues are defined, a full hour of The Ally continues at top volume—people shouting at each other but mainly shouting at Asaf. The cast is capable and the performances are generally good otherwise. But director Wechsler might consider modifying the mood of The Ally to lower the volume on the debate. Or maybe that’s not possible. Perhaps it’s just an unpleasant play.
The setting mimics an academic venue with a wall of bookcases and vintage chairs and tables. Scenic design is by Joe Schermoly with lighting by Piper Kirchofer and sound design by Joseph Cerqua. Costumes are by Matthew Eggers. Sarah Luse is stage manager.
The Ally has been extended through May 17 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. Running time is just under 2.5 hours with one intermission. Tickets and more information available here.
For more information on this and other productions, see theatreinchicago.com.
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