(L-R) Sasha Marvin, Max Jackson, Ali Karambash, Ege Yalcinbas, and Elijay Williams. Photo by Teresa Castracane Photography.
Genre-bending plays can often be a difficult sell. Accustomed to tragedy, comedy, or a hybrid mashup, the average theatregoer generally likes to “name” their plays. What Austrian-Iranian playwright Arad Dabiri creates with “Pressure!” not only unapologetically rethinks traditional genre boundaries, but does so in a way that entices audiences to rethink their own notions of what a conventional play looks like.
The cast members’ explosive performances match the energy and rawness of Dabiri’s sharp script.
A contemporary piece set in Austria, the story follows the exploits of four friends who are awaiting the outcome of an older brother’s trial. While said brother never appears in the play, his presence is catalyzed by the anxiety, outrage, and fear that pervade just about every conversation and interaction between the members of this core group. Each of the characters must also cope with barriers to their own respective journeys and the simmering anger that might just prevent them from seeing those journeys through.
This is also a play about the rampant “othering” of people, and how that implicit “less-than” status is used to bar some from fully participating in the society around them, from experiencing true freedom in a world hostile to difference. If this sounds like an all-too-familiar tale, that’s because it is. Sadly, this form of undue vilification plays out over and over again in numerous countries.
The cast members’ explosive performances match the energy and rawness of Dabiri’s sharp script. Simultaneously somber and angry monologues blend with poetic refrains to speak to injustice and the resulting sense of pressure enveloping the characters. As brother of the incarcerated subject, Alie Karambash’s Hassan delivers an emotional and powerful performance. He centralizes this lingering feeling of pain and societal insecurity, making his personal journey a particularly haunting one. Hassan’s sidekicks, Murat (Sacha Marvin) and Omar (Elijah Williams), struggle to fight their own demons while searching for that elusive “something better.” As Hassan’s sister Shirin, Ege Yalcinbas brings an invigorating feminine energy to a situation that becomes increasingly volatile. Her portrayal shines. As Shirin’s boyfriend/Hassan’s friend Freddie, Max Jackson lights up the stage both musically and as that loose cannon who could throw things into even more disarray without necessarily intending to.
Under Karin Rosnizeck’s direction (she also translated Dabiri’s script), the production moves along rapidly with beautiful moments of reflection punctuated by the chaos and catastrophic fragility of the situation at hand. A particularly eruptive protest scene brings the storyline to a screeching halt while leaning into some heavy “power of the people” energy. It’s discordant and in its discordance, highly thought-provoking.
The set design is relatively barebones. Projections by Tennessee Dixon, sound by Nardia Strowbridge, and lighting by Ian Claar combine to foreboding effect. Overall, the production vibe aligns perfectly with the heavy thematic messaging of the play. It can be difficult at times, watching these characters succumb to the fear, the rage, and the pressure of the moment. Ultimately, though, it is their personal realizations and revelations that make this show a wholly satisfying one.
Running Time: One hour and 30 minutes with no intermission.
Advisory: 18+ (adults only); swearing and references and depictions of drug use.
“Pressure!” runs through April 5, 2026presented by ExPats Theatre at Atlas Performing Arts Center, Lab II, 1333 H Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. For more information and to purchase tickets, call the Box Office at 202.99.7993, Tuesday-Sunday: 12-6 pm and one hour prior to the performance, email boxoffice@atlasarts.org, or go online.
