Broken Wing

Last year, Iranian-American actress and puppeteer Leila Ghaznavi impressed with her debut Fringe play, Silken Veils. The show returns this year, with a slightly longer run and more developed plot, but she's also brought a new work with her: Broken Wing. In it, an American photo-journalist visits Iran during the Damascus Rose harvest, and stays with a college friend of his step-father's. His initial boredom is forgotten when he falls in love with his host's young wife, the disastrous consequences of which are made clear at the very beginning of the play.

These non-linear snippets save Broken Wing from being a simple tale of star-crossed lovers. The set is impressive too: Persian rugs hang from above, and the holes that have been cut out of them are covered with a gauzy film. It's through these hazy windows that flashback and flashforward scenes are delivered, giving the production a dreamlike quality without ever detracting from the seriousness of the fate that befalls the adulterous wife in this ultra-conservative village.

While Ghaznavi's script is wrought with emotion, it's funny too, proving that she has the skills to create convincing characters in a believable world. But, despite impressive performances from the three-strong cast, there's still some work to be done here. At only 45 minutes, the show feels light, which is disconcerting given its weighty theme, and the pace canters along a little too quickly. With an extended storyline and a bit more detail, this could be a great work from a playwright who seems to have a real and lasting future.