THE WHO & THE WHAT- Is for Everyone about What's Acceptable

The Claire Tow Theater (LCT3) @ Lincoln Ctr. is the latest & greatest welcomed addition to Lincoln Ctr.  Although it has been opened for a yr. this was my 1st opportunity as tickets for this intimate theater ($20/show) sell out almost immediately.  The play was extended & I purchased tickets @ "$50 because it was extended."  Still, this show was well worth the dough.  It's a very intelligent play that questions the ability to question everything you were taught to know.  Playwright Ayad Akhtar (Amer. b 1970 to Pakistani Parents) won a Pulitzer in '13 for  DISGRACED.  His new play, THE WHO & THE WHAT is a courageous, brilliant & entertaining play that questions our beliefs, values & priorities.  It has the audacity for blasphemy. WHAT, if anything should be considered sacrosanct? To WHAT extent should religious beliefs be maintained?  This 4 character contemporary play is about an Amer. Muslim family.  The father, Mahwish is from Pakistan & lives with 2 his adult daughters.  Mahwish (Tala Ashue) is a doting but controlling father.  His marriage was prearranged.   He tells his daughters that their marriage became very loving after 3 years.  Mahwish forbade his daughter, Zarina, from marrying the Catholic man she loved because he was not of their faith.  Zarina is strong minded & curious.  Mahwish surreptitiously arranges for Zarina to meet Eli (Greg Keller) who is white and a devout, converted Muslim.  Zarina is arduously working on a book she describes as "gender politics." Her father believes this an euphemism for "sex crazed."  The book is far more tumultuous. The 2nd act begins with Zarina & Eli married and the book completed.  Eli's honest reaction is not what Zarina hoped to hear.  Eli is concerned she desecrated the prophet & they will be ostracized & put in grave danger.  Mahwish becomes hostile & ballistic.  He banishes Zarina from the family.  This play parralleled FIDDLER.  Both Mahwish & Tevyah are good hearted, & open minded but they both drew a line with their religious convictions.  If an artist hasn't won the Pulitzer in consecutive years, Ayad may be the 1st WHO does just THAT.