A DISTINCT SOCIETY by Kareem Fahmy

Nothing much ever happens in the sleepy Haskell Free Library that straddles the border of Vermont and Quebec. But when an Iranian father and daughter, separated by the “Muslim ban,” begin using the library as a meeting place, the French-Canadian librarian, an American border patrol agent, and a local teenager find their quiet lives suddenly full of excitement and consequence. Inspired by true events, this touching and funny play is about the many things—family, food, art, love, and politics—that can either divide or unite us.

95 minutes · 3M, 2W · Unit set

Published by Dramatists Play Service

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Productions

Firehouse Theatre Richmond, VA2025
Weston Theatre Company Weston, VT2025
Human Race Theatre Dayton, OH2025
Writers Theatre Glencoe, IL — Midwest Premiere2023
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Palo Alto, CA — Co-World Premiere2023
Pioneer Theatre Company Salt Lake City, UT — Co-World Premiere2023

Awards

Winner Capital Repertory Next Act! New Play Summit2020
Finalist Princess Grace Fellowship2020
Semi-Finalist O’Neill National Playwrights Conference2020
Semi-Finalist Bay Area Playwrights Festival2020
Semi-Finalist Premiere Stages New Play Festival2020

Development

Citadel Theatre · Edmonton, AB
Northlight Theatre · Skokie, IL
International Voices Project · Chicago
Capital Repertory Theatre · Albany, NY
New York Stage & Film · NYC
The Lark · NYC

Superb on all counts.

Rich in foreshadowing, thematic symbolism and relevance with dialogue hitting all of the right beats.

· The Utah Review

Filled with comedy and warmth.

An undeniably emotional and powerful portrait of familial love.

· Richmond Family Magazine

Thought provoking, heartwarming, and often funny.

· Evanston RoundTable

Seven San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Nominations

Including:
Outstanding Production & Outstanding Original Script

A timely and poignant exploration of human connection. Fahmy’s script deftly weaves together personal with political.

· League of Cincinnati Theatres

An always-engaging play — it’s philosophical, funny, timely, and refuses to take sides.
Humanity is what this play celebrates.

· NY Theatre Wire

Gripping. Heartbreaking.

Fahmy clearly understands his subject material and presents it in a framework of universal desires for connection and humanity.

· BroadwayWorld

A triumph. Bracingly relevant. Though the play’s politics are unavoidable, there are no polemics.

· Style Magazine

★★★★

A candid, provocative look into how the ban affected millions of Muslims.

· Let’s Play Theatrical Reviews

The characters are vivid and life-sized.

A timeless commentary on immigration, nationalism and humanity.

· Chester Telegraph

A monumental new work.

Extremely timely and important in the up-close, sensitive, and yet stark manner it shows how declarations from on high can affect ordinary people, near and far.

· Talkin’ Broadway