The first performance of our boys' troupe is at a treatment center for drug-addicted adolescents in central Herat. As we enter the compound, there is a young child standing in the yard. I think, surely he can’t be one of them! But he can, and he is. The patients are boys ranging in age from 9 to 17. How do they end up getting involved in drugs? They come from families where there are drug-addicted adults, and in which the children end up using drugs as well (opium, heroin). Indeed, I saw a documentary on Afghan women who would smoke opium to soothe various ailments and give it to their babies to put them to sleep so that the women could work undisturbed. In other situations, children who are working are given drugs by their employers and once they are hooked they get paid in drugs so that they’ll keep working more and more. The treatment center runs ads on TV to bring awareness to the issue and has field workers out looking for whoever might need help. At the center the boys get treatment and vocational training, such as tailoring, together with classes in literacy, computers and painting. They youths stay at the center for six months. I did not find out exactly what happens to them after this. The young ones go back to their families, but are the families still drug-addicted or did they get treatment too?
We do the show outside for 40 boys all dressed in blue tunics and pants. It’s a good show with great energy – kudos to our young performers! – and everyone seems to really enjoy it. We ask if they have ever seen a play before. None have. Theater doesn’t really exist in Afghanistan in these times. It’s a complete novelty for them to have something played out before them in live action.
What is the show about? As with the presentation by the girls' troupe, the boys' show addresses family conflict but focuses on the role of the husband. It tells the story of an angry and frustrated man who mistreats his family with verbal and physical abuse. While away on a journey, the man witnesses other ways of living and being. He sees men who act with authority and yet with patience and kindness, and how they as well as everyone around them are so much happier. Little by little, the man sees the errors of his ways and decides to make a change. In great excitement, he returns home to start anew with his family. The story is simplistically laid out here, but in its theatrical presentation it is quite affecting. Our boys are as talented as the girls and play their roles with great commitment. The goal is to present to the community effective and positive ways to handle conflict within the family and how everyone in the family benefits (including the husband) when there is support of each other. We discuss with the boys the difference between the men portrayed and which behavior works best for a happy and productive home and society.
Did they like the show? Bale! (Yes!) Do they think it’s a good message? Bale!! Is this a good way to bring information to the community? Bale!!! What else should we do a show about? Drug-addiction! Indeed.
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As this is a show with the boys for the boys, Michael (being a boy) leads the workshop section, which leaves Joanna and I free to observe. There is great excitement as Michael engages the group in a physicalized energy game and some silly clown antics. Afterwards, one of the boys breaks out in an impromptu dance performance in our honor as guests. Someone plays Iranian music on a cell phone as accompaniment. The boy dances in the same style I’ve seen girls do, apparently men do the same movements, although this boy is definitely effeminate (Joanna suspects he is a ‘dancing boy’*). Another boy joins in. There is a fun festive feeling of spontaneous joy and celebration in our shared exchange. And I think to myself: these are the moments I live for. This is why I do this work!
Khoda hafez! Time to go. Joanna and I start to leave, waving goodbye and turning to go but we turn back again and a silly game ensues between us and the boys of turning back and forth while attempting to leave. I suddenly realize I don’t have my shoes on, and burst out “oh no, my shoes!!?” This is apparently hilarious to the boys, and so I start to play with lifting my feet up looking at them and then looking around wondering where in the world my shoes could be. I’m genuinely confused, but then I ham it up a bit too. The boys follow, finding all this very funny. Crazy foreigners! Well, I can’t help but clown around a little! (And I can’t help that someone took my shoes and put them away at the front entrance.)
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* For information on dancing boys, see this article: The Dancing Boys of Afghanistan
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