Yasmina's Necklace By Rohina Malik 5m and 2 F Meet Abdul Samee: his father is an Arab, his mother is a Latina-but if you ask him, he’ll say he’s Italian. Longing to shed his cultural identity he changes his name to Sam, marries an American and does everything in his power to turn his back on his heritage. But when Sam meets Yasmina, a beautiful woman from his father’s homeland, he begins to learn that a tree without roots cannot stand for long. World premiere at the 16th street theater. Second production at Mustard Seed Theater in St Louis MO. Third production at The Goodman Theatre, Chicago 2017 and Fourth production at Premiere Stages in NJ in 2019.
"Highly Reccomended" “Yasmina’s Necklace,” the lovely play by Rohina Malik now on stage at the Goodman’s Owen Theatre, is really a poignant meditation on the psychic scars left by shattered love, horrific wars, cultural displacement and the refugee life. Yes, there are laughs along the way. But there also is an aching sadness. And the ability to balance those things — as demonstrated by Malik, director Ann Filmer, and her gifted cast — is a fine trick of artistry and insight. Chicago Sun Times
"⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆ (out of 5)" "Takes us deep into the heart and soul of a woman." -AROUND THE TOWN CHICAGO
"Chicago playwright Rohina Malik gracefully balances the political and the personal in her intelligent, moving play" The Reader
"sincere and warmhearted romantic comedy by the Chicago-based writer Malik, and a humanistic, generously spirited show" Chicago Tribune
"Malik pulls no punches as her witty, engaging script shifts into something poignant and powerful." Chicago On Stage
"The brilliance of Malik’s script is that it doesn’t shy away from complexity. Each of her principal characters has an intricate history and a myriad of reasons for doing what they do and each of those stories is shared with the audience. Malik is making a very strong statement: being Muslim is not one thing—being Muslim is many things."
Newcity Stage
"Our author doesn't make it easy, either, threatening to take her story in a different direction every time we think we know what will happen next."
Windy City Times
" an all-encompassing story of human resilience and possibility, "Yasmina's Necklace" is a substantial addition to Goodman Theatre's 2017/2018 season slate." Edge Media
"The Goodman Theatre has brought “Yasmina’s Necklace” to its Owen Theatre in substantially the same 2016 staging. The show remains a winner" Chicagoland Theater reviews
"As such, each primary character in Yasmina's Necklace is both beautiful and damaged, loving and imperfect, hopeful and hurting and ultimately, like the rest of us" Seth Saith
"Malik offers cogent observations and crafts truly poignant scenes. To that end, a clasp of hands late in the play carried as much emotional weight -- and promise -- as any scene I've experienced recently. Moreover, in Yasmina and Sam, she has crafted complex, self-aware and wholly authentic characters." Daily Herald
‘Yasmina’s Necklace’ exemplifies timeless truths. Highly Recommeded. -Chicago Theater and Arts
"Quiet, compelling and ultimately unforgettable" -Chicago Theater Beat
"It is a stark reminder that war infects lives in unseen ways. It is a story about the power of love to overcome deep odds. It is a beautiful, hilarious, painful play that needs to be seen." -Chicago Onstage Production Photos From Premiere Stages NJ. Directed by Kareem Fahmy.
Photos from the Goodman Production Oct 2017
Photos and Reviews From the 16th Street Theater production "3.5 Stars out of 4. A loving and nearly pitch-perfect premiere at 16th Street Theatre, is a powerful play" Kerstin Brookman, Chicago Stage Standard.
"3 Stars! Malik has given us a sweet and hopeful story about finding love after horror" - Kerry Reid, Chicago Tribune "gracefully written... casting is perfect... thoroughly satisfying" - Jack Helbig, Chicago Reader "outstanding... grabs you from its first moments... funny and deeply moving" - Doug Deuchler, Oak Park Journal. "a beautifully-crafted love story in which the Middle-Eastern refugee crises and immigrant assimilation anxiety are woven seamlessly into a character drama" -- Jacob Davis , Chicago Critic. ABC 7 Chicago says Yasmina's necklace is one of the top 6 plays to see! Photos from 16th Street Theater