“Mohammed-Zain Dada’s Blue Mist provides some heavy blows without ever losing its wit“
The shisha lounge is a space not too dissimilar from the pub, in the way that it acts as a third space for local people to spend time, come up with ideas, and enjoy leisure and the company of one another. In many ways, Mohammed-Zain Dada’s Blue Mist joins a tradition of plays focusing on the lives of working-class men, set primarily in this third space. What sets it apart is how this space, free from the dourness of alcoholism, is framed as a site of entrepreneurship and ambition. We follow Jihad (Omar Bynon) and his friends Rashid (Azan Ahmed) and Asif (Kashif Ghole) as Jihad wins a journalist’s prize to develop a project revolving around Chunkyz, the shisha lounge they frequent. As Jihad is furthered into his project by the media organisation running it, he is pressured further and further to convey a story different to the one we see playing out onstage, one which focuses on the disadvantages of working-class muslim life rather than the ambitions of the people Jihad has ground up with. There is something particularly powerful about staging a series of events and conversations alongside the way the media constructs that narrative completely differently. A little more nuance would perhaps make it even more striking (“well intentioned” media outlets can do just as much damage) but the story is nonetheless impactful, and it’s unforgiving use of consequence makes it one that’ll stick around in your mind for a while after.
The betrayal does not come as a surprise. What does is the play’s unwillingness to give this betrayal any kind of reprieve. The story carries a real weight of consequence, and in this we see the real barriers between class, laid out by the conditions the professional (in this case, media) class lay out for anyone who wants in to adhere to. The play is as much about class as it is about race, highlighting how race and racism is used to break up working class communities who often face similar disadvantages in a society which prioritises the comfort of the wealthy.
The set, designed by Thomás Palmer, centres the conversation pit of the shisha lounge, and there is an impressive piece of transformation that happens at the point of betrayal which literally sees Rashid and Asif crushed under the ceiling which Jihad ascends through, desperately calling out to his friends as he does. The show ends on a poignant moment which turns the focus onto the audience, and asks us of our responsibilities when consuming media precisely like Blue Mist itself.
Occasionally the conversation pit feels like a bit of an awkward space to work around when we are not in the shisha lounge, but overall, Milli Bhatia’s direction is lively and inventive. It helps that Dada’s writing balances humour incredibly well alongside the real heavy hitting moments of the play – it never loses its wit. All three actors are consistent with their performances, feeling like a real group of friends who have known each other since childhood. It provides a warmth to the play that when broken, feels truly crushing. Blue Mist is a consistent joy to watch, unrelenting and insightful, it’s one not to miss.
Blue Mist is on until the 14th of July at Stratford East, with remaining dates at Birmingham Rep 22-25th July, and Leicester’s Curve Theatre 28-30th July.