In the last five years of her life, Nawal, never the best mother to her twins, falls completely silent. After she dies, her will asks her math professor daughter and amateur boxer son to find a father they thought was dead and a brother they didn’t know existed. What they discover is the tragic story of their mother’s early life in an unnamed Middle Eastern country. The tale starts with young love or war or murder or friendship or torture; one thing always leads to another until somebody tries to break the chain.
Tarragon’s original 2007 production of Scorched won acclaim and two Dora Awards. This remount, which is slated for a national tour, offers a rare second chance to see what the fuss is about. The blood-soaked themes and poetic intensity might seem more righteous than entertaining, but the fast pacing (especially in the first act — the second drags a bit), clever staging and comic relief of Alon Nashman’s notary add sparkle to the heartbreak. Nawal is played at three ages by three different actresses. Janick Hébert and Nicola Lipman have her down pat — starry-eyed and embittered, respectively. Sarah Orenstein, taking over Kelli Fox’s role as middle-aged Nawal, sometimes seems more of an impatient school teacher than an impassioned warrior. But that’s a quibble considering the strength of the ensemble.