Noura

by Heather Raffo

As Noura and her husband Tariq prepare to celebrate a traditional Christmas, she looks forward to welcoming a special guest--Maryam, a young Iraqi refugee. But the girl's arrival opens wounds the family has tried to leave behind, forcing them to confront where they are, where they've been and who they have become.

86 pages, Paperback

Published September 2, 2019

Reviews

[Robert Birnbaum · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really do not enjoy reading plays. I read this one in preparation for a law and literature program I am going to next month. I will also be seeing a performance of this play in a couple of weeks, so I may change my rating after that. That being said, this play presents the story of Noura, an Iraqi Christian immigrant living in New York, as she and her family get ready for Christmas. In addition to her husband and son, an old friend and a young woman are coming for Christmas dinner. The young woman is an Iraqi orphan Noura and her husband have supported as she was raised in a convent and as she is a grad student at Stanford. They have never met her in person. As the play progresses Noura’s unease with her identity and her place in the world becomes increasingly difficult for her. Her unease is complicated by a secret that is revealed late in the story and shakes up everything. I found this to be a good presentation of the conflict many immigrants experience between their old world and new world identities and relationships. How hard it is to lose the communities and relationships they were part of and to find new ones that are satisfying. I know I will get new insights by seeing the play and discussing it with others. I will resist this review after that.

[IReadPlays · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I need a country in between.”
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An absolutely beautiful and intricate play 5/5🌟
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Playwrite Heather Raffo invites us into the living room of Noura (also called Nora, a subtle-not-so-subtle reference to A Doll’s House) and her Iraqi family. They’ve lived in New York for eight years and invited a recent refugee from Noura’s same hometown to join them for Christmas dinner. It is a stunning and vulnerable exploration of identity, immigration and family as each of them grapple with moving on while also remembering their past. A sobering and powerful read that I’m really glad I picked up to say the least. There are also some compelling twists that left me wanting even more from these characters and their individual and collective journeys. Truly left sitting on the edge of my seat…or couch, i should say.
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After researching it more, I also learned that Heather Raffo starred in a few productions as the title role which is so cool (!!). She pulled a lot inspiration from her own family’s past and experiences and I’m sure that deep rooted connection made the whole piece that much more impactful to see live. I can’t say enough about it… don’t miss this one!

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[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

For Drama Reading group.

[Sarah Salisbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has to be one of the best things I've ever read for school. Wow.