Back of the Throat

by Yussef El Guindi

Sparkling with intelligence and humor, Back of the Throat is the tale of an apparently friendly visit by two government officials, which soon devolves into a full-blown, no-holds-barred probe. Khaled, an Arab-American writer and the focus of their inquiry, finds himself, to his astonishment, suddenly accused of possible ties to terrorists. As the interrogation proceeds, the officials reveal their evidence, but is it evidence? Or have innocent events been distorted through the lens of paranoid suspicion? As the situation turns increasingly surreal, and the menace to Khaled increasingly real, the question of what it means to be an American takes on a very personal and charged significance. An enthralling and ultimately chilling black comedy, Back of the Throat confronts bureaucratic euphemisms like "person of interest" and "enhanced interrogation techniques" with the frightening reality they seek to obscure.

Genres: Plays, Theatre, Drama

53 pages, Paperback

First published January 30, 2006

Reviews

[Hadeel Mashhour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Racism Racism Racism...This is what the story is all about...The racist government of America which revealed its darkest face after 11/9 event against any muslim or arab...WoW

[Stefania · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Iga K · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I reread this play for a class I'm teaching. The theme is "unsettled" and oh boy is this play unsettling. Set after the events of 9/11, this play explores the rise in racial profiling of Arabs and Arab-appearing Americans. It's a short play that packs a punch. Questions of masculinity also permeate the play and there are veiled references to Abu Ghraib and the photos that came out of that scandal. It's a dark play that never ceases to make me think about 9/11 and the aftermath. I don't know if students like it and I don't know if it's the best play, but it certainly has a lot to talk about.

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though I loved reading this play, I don't think I could handle seeing it live. So many disturbing—but meaningful—scenes.