On & Off Broadway

‘The Boy Who Danced On Air’

Review by Elyse Trevers

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The same traditions that connect us to our past can limit us in the present. In rural Afghanistan, wealthy men still practice the ancient custom of bacha baz, where men purchase poor boys from their families and train them to be dancers. These youngsters are often sexually abused by their owners and even shared with others.

Inspired by a PBS Frontline documentary, The Dancing Boys of Afghanistan, Tim Rosser (music) and Charlie Sohme (book and lyrics) created The Boy Who Danced On Air, a moving show about love, tradition and identity. This disturbing musical tells of Jahandar (Jonathan Raviv) who buys Paiman (Troy Iwata) from his family and trains him to be a dancer. He explains that it is sinful for a man to have relationships with any woman other than his wife, yet it seems to be permissible to be with a dancing boy.

Jahandar has trouble reconciling his feelings for young Paiman. However, once the boy gets older, he recognizes it is no longer right since soon Paiman will be a man. While some men sell their dancing boys or send them away, Jahandar finds a wife for him and arranges a marriage. In the meanwhile, Paiman gets involved with another dancing boy named Feda, who is a little older. Feda (Nikhil Saboo) dreams of escaping to the city to become an entertainer. The two fall in love, and in another culture and another situation, this might have been the recipe for a happily-ever-after modern romance. Sadly, not here.

It’s not usual that I watch a play, especially a musical, with an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach, awaiting catastrophe. The Boy Who Danced On Air is moving and absorbing. This is a beautiful show with some glorious music. Two haunting songs, “With Him Around Me” and the final number, “Feda’s Song,” may run through your head long after you’ve left the small June Havoc Theatre. The ‘boys’ do interpretive dancing, twirling around the small stage, wearing gauzy skirts and bells. Saboo performs some impressive athletic moves. The show has an all-male cast and the three leads have wonderful voices.

Though neither appears young enough, Iwata has youthful good looks and sweetness. He’s touching and causes you to care deeply about him, especially as he begins to stand up for himself. Thanks to Raviv’s fine acting skills, the audience even feels some sympathy for Jahandar’s conflicted emotions, but is still angry when he takes out his anger on Paiman.

The true villain of the piece is Jahandar’s cousin, Zemar (Osh Ghanimah). Yet he is also the voice of cold cruel reality. He also provides the little humor in the play, introducing each scene he’s in with a silly joke.

Jahandar instructs the young impressionable Paiman about the world. Although the two obviously care for one another, Jahandar cannot admit it and, besides, tradition would never permit it. “Destruction occurs when you question what always was.” Yet the world survives because of changes and acceptance.

The Boy Who Danced On Air is a powerful play and while it may not be for everyone, it is definitely worth seeing. The musical has a short run and is scheduled to close June 11.