Written in 1992, Scenic Routes explores the craggy terrain of cultural misunderstandings and misperceptions between an American woman, Lana, and an Egyptian man, Naguib. Beginning almost whimsically as a pick-up in a bar, the relationship soon gets mired in well intentioned but often clumsy attempts to bridge what are perceived as cultural divides. The initial and natural awkwardness of any two intimates getting to know each other soon gets blown up and erroneously labeled as cultural differences between two foreigners.

This quickly leads to resentment and, on the part of Lana’s family, suspicion. Fed up with these fears and loaded questions directed at him, Naguib plays a series of games where he tries to turn these stereotypes on their head and render them harmless. But the opposite effect results. A bomb goes off in the exact area where Naguib and Lana were playing a particularly dangerous game a half hour earlier. Lana is terrified that the bag they left behind had more in it than Naguib let on.... Lana begins to question who she’s really going out with; as Naguib finds himself slowly getting ensnared and lost in other people’s fears and suspicions. These “specters” that he thought he could manage quickly end up haunting and possessing the relationship.... By the end of the play only alienation and fear remain and the potential for human connection is lost.

Yussef El-Guindi, primarily a playwright, has also been active as a poet, actor and filmmaker. His adaptation of Chekhov's A Marriage Proposal, staged by the Arab Theatrical Arts Guild in Dearborn MI, was nominated for several PAGE awards including Outstanding Achievement in Original Play or Adaptation. His last poem, Crossing Borders, was published on placards and placed on buses as part of Seattle's Poetry and Art on Buses. His short film, Love Stalks, won an award for best short narrative film at the Seattle Underground Film Festival and was aired on KTEH. A native of Egypt, Yussef holds an MFA in Playwriting from Carnegie-Mellon University and was playwright in-residence at Duke University

General $18
Student, Senior, TBA Discount $15

At EXIT Stage Left
256 Eddy St. (at Taylor ), San Francisco. 2 blocks to Powell St. BART.

Zachary Link, Maria Mastroyannis, Janak Ramachandran, Ruby Unger*
* Appearing courtesy of Actors' Equity Association. An AEA approved project.