Jihad

A fictional meeting between Richard the Lionheart and Saladin, leader of the Islamic forces during the Crusades of 1192, sets the stage for Jihad, Ann Chamberlin’s mystical exploration of “the gender connection” in determining the fate of humanity. With the help of a mysterious woman–who may be mother, wife, lover, and perhaps Goddess–these men come to question the validity of their quarrel and the very foundation of their beliefs. Although grounded in its historical setting, the play resonates for modern audiences with its timeless themes of war, religion, and the mother of all battles: that between the sexes. This production is part of the Midtown International Theatre Festival.