Paolo Santalucia « Simerg – Insights from Around the World

UPDATE, JUNE 4, 2024: The following are recent reviews of The Wrong Bashir in Canada’s media:

Intermission Magazine: The Wrong Bashir is an ode to the hyphenated identities of Canada
The Slotkin Letter: Review THE WRONG BASHIR
Createastir: Strong performances and big laughs as The Wrong Bashir makes generational conflict universal
John’s Opera Rambling: The Wrong Bashir
The Toronto Star: Think ‘Kim’s Convenience’ but set in an Ismaili Muslim family. This play feels ripe for a TV adaptation (may require subscription)
The Globe and Mail: The Wrong Bashir paints a loving, humorous picture of the Ismaili community (may require subscription)

The preview night of Zahida Rahemtulla’s play The Wrong Bashir at Toronto’s renowned Crow’s Theatre on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, was a sell-out event. Crow’s Theatre picked up the play for its bold, ambitious and imaginative 2024-2025 season following The Wrong Bashir’s successful Vancouver showing in May 2023. The Wrong Bashir is Burnaby-born Ismaili playwright Zahida Rahemtulla’s debut play. The play runs until June 16.

Special Discounts to See The Wrong Bashir

For tickets for all shows from May 21 to June 16, 2024, please click Buy Tickets for The Wrong Bashir and use the following promotion codes, as applicable:

May 21 to May 26, 2024: General Admission Adult and Senior Tickets can be purchased 2-FOR-1. Please use promotion code WRONG241;
May 21 to June 1, 2024: General Admission Adult and Senior tickets will be discounted 25%. Please use promotion code BASHIR25; and
Throughout the entire run (May 21^st-June 9^th), there is also a 20% discount for groups of 8+ anytime, which can be obtained by contacting the Crow’s Theatre box office at boxoffice@crowstheatre.com or calling (647) 341-7390.
The performance on June 16 is Pay-What-You-Can.

With its heartwarming and humorous portrayal of an intergenerational, transitional moment in the life of a family and community, the play is a must-see for all Ismaili community members. The Wrong Bashir affectionately shows much humour within the worldwide Ismaili community. The play elicited ample laughs and resonated widely with Ismaili and broader audiences in Vancouver and on its debut night in Toronto.

We are truly gratified by the magnificent success new Ismaili artists and filmmakers such as Zahida Rahemtulla and Kiana Rawji, whom we featured in 2023, are achieving in the early days of their careers. Simerg values their inspiring accomplishments and extends a warm invitation to other talented Ismaili youth. This is your chance to seize the opportunity and share your original stories of success and recognition in your respective areas of endeavour with national and/or international impact. Remember, your stories are not just personal triumphs, but also an integral part of the Ismaili Muslim community’s narrative, shaping our collective identity and inspiring future generations.

Date posted: May 23, 2024.
Last updated: June 4, 2024 (links added to reviews of the play, see update notice at the top of post, and play extended by a week to June 16).

Correction: In an earlier version, we had incorrectly stated May 21, 2024, as the opening night of “The Wrong Bashir.” May 21 was the preview night. The official opening took place on Friday, May 24.

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PLAYWRIGHT ZAHIDA RAHEMTULLA AND DIRECTOR PAOLO SANTALUCIA

Zahida Rahemtulla

Zahida Rahemtulla is a playwright and short story writer. Her debut play, The Wrong Bashir, premiered with Touchstone Theatre in Vancouver in May 2023 and makes its Toronto premiere on May 21, 2024, at the Crow’s Theatre, which has been a leading force in new play creation in the Canadian theatre landscape. Zahida currently facilitates Paragon Theatre’s East of Tarragon Project in Scarborough and is passionate about education and working on new playswith new playwrights.

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Paolo Santalucia, director of The Wrong Bashir, Crow's Theatre, Toronto — *Paolo Santalucia*

Paolo Santalucia is an award-winning actor, director and writer. He is a Soulpepper Academy graduate and has been a member of Soulpepper’s ensemble for the past ten seasons. Paolo is a co-founder and Artistic Leader of the award-winning Howland Company. Paolo also teaches classical performance with the University of Toronto’s Theatre and Drama Studies Program, and is the recipient of two Dora Mavor Moore Awards in acting, one nomination for direction, and has been shortlisted for the John Hirsch Award for Directing.

“Much like Kim’s Convenience, The Wrong Bashir offers characters familiar to and loved by their communities…and a laugh-yourself-silly evening.” — JoLedingham.ca

By MALIK MERCHANT

Zahida Rahemtulla’s play The Wrong Bashir, which ran to packed houses when it was launched a year ago in Vancouver, is premiering at Toronto’s renowned Crow’s Theatre on May 21, 2024. It will run until June 9, 2024. The Theatre picked up Zahida’s new play as part of its bold, ambitious and imaginative 2024-2025 season following The Wrong Bashir’s successful Vancouver showing. It then issued a special call for Ismaili actors based in Eastern Canada to audition for some roles. Crow’s Theatre has been home to groundbreaking and award-winning productions.

The Wrong Bashir is Burnaby-born Ismaili playwright Zahida Rahemtulla’s debut play.

The play delves into the life of Bashir Ladha, a young philosophy major who has strayed from his Ismaili Muslim roots. The story takes a hilarious turn when Bashir’s parents receive a call that their unconventional podcaster son has been chosen as the student’s Mukhisaheb, a significant role in Ismaili Jamatkhanas. They dutifully accept the role on behalf of their son. Before Bashir can argue, two official committee representatives arrive at the Ladha household. The representatives soon realize a mistake in selection, adding to the comedic chaos. The doorbell rings, and Bashir’s excited grandparents and family friend make a surprise visit, having caught wind of the news at their Jamatkhana.

Zahida Rahemtulla's The Wrong Bashir Behind the Scenes, at Crow's Theatre in Toronto, Simerg review Insights from around the world

Vancouver’s world premiere featured Ismaili actors Sabrina Vellani, Shera Haji, Salim Rahemtulla, and Hussein Janmohamed. The Toronto premiere will feature Ismailis Nimet Kanji, Zaitun Esmail, and Salim Rahemtulla alongside a large cast (click The Team link on the page). Supporting sponsors for the production are Shabin and Nader Mohamed and Tazmin Merali and Nasir Noormohamed.

A scene from Zahida Rahemtulla's The Wrong Bashir Crow's Theatre — *A scene from Zahida Rahemtulla’s The Wrong Bashir.*

“The Wrong Bashir found the right audience on opening night if gales of laughter are any indication. From the curtain opener to the surprise at curtain fall, the sold-out crowd at the Firehall had a grand time. The Wrong Bashir is going to be a big hit; for some, it will be a laugh-yourself-silly evening” — Jo Ledingham, Vancouver Theatre Review.

The Wrong Bashir by Zahia Rahemtulla, Crow Theatre Toronto debut

The play is directed by award-winning Toronto director Paolo Santalucia. Crow’s Artistic Director, Chris Abraham, who was already familiar with the Ismaili community in Toronto, championed its inclusion in the 2024 season and brought it to the theatre.

Playwright Zahida says she is excited to see it premiere in Toronto, where the story has shifted from its original Vancouver setting to Toronto’s Don Mills.

Special Discounts: Purchase Tickets for The Wrong Bashir

For tickets for all shows from May 21 to June 9, 2024, please click Buy Tickets for The Wrong Bashir and use the following promotion codes, as applicable:

May 21 to May 26, 2024: General Admission Adult and Senior Tickets can be purchased 2-FOR-1. Please use promotion code WRONG241;
May 21 to June 1, 2024: General Admission Adult and Senior tickets will be discounted 25%. Please use promotion code BASHIR25; and
Throughout the entire run (May 21^st-June 9^th), there is also a 20% discount for groups of 8+ anytime, which can be obtained by contacting the Crow’s Theatre box office at boxoffice@crowstheatre.com or calling (647) 341-7390.

For tickets for all shows from May 21 to June 9, 2024, please click Buy Tickets for The Wrong Bashir.

Date posted: May 13, 2024.
Date updated: May 14, 2024 (added promotion codes for discounted tickets).

________________

PLAYWRIGHT ZAHIDA RAHEMTULLA AND DIRECTOR PAOLO SANTALUCIA

Zahida Rahemtulla

Zahida Rahemtulla is a playwright and short story writer. Her debut play, The Wrong Bashir, premiered with Touchstone Theatre in Vancouver in May 2023 and makes its Toronto premiere on May 21, 2024, at the Crow’s Theatre, which has been a leading force in new play creation in the Canadian theatre landscape. Zahida currently facilitates Parragon Theatre’s East of Tarragon Project in Scarborough and is passionate about education and working on new plays and with new playwrights.

~~~~~~

Paolo Santalucia is an award-winning actor, director and writer. He is a graduate of the Soulpepper Academy, and has been a member of Soulpepper’s ensemble for the past ten seasons. Paolo is a co-founder and Artistic Leader of the award-winning Howland Company. Paolo also teaches classical performance with the University of Toronto’s Theatre and Drama Studies Program, and is the recipient of two Dora Mavor Moore Awards in acting, one nomination for direction, and has been shortlisted for the John Hirsch Award for Directing.