"SMART, SUPPLE PRODUCTION" - THE NEW YORK TIMES

PRESS FOR “BARS & MEASURES”:

Smart, supple production…fine cast…handsomely polished. – Laura Collins-Hughes, The New York Times

Gifted singer/actress Salma plays Sylvia, a non-practicing Muslim who works with Eric on a musical project.  Shaw also plays Bilal’s defense lawyer as well as a reporter later on in the play, giving a legitimate and authentic performance for each as well as impressing us with her vocal talents. – Theater Pizzazz

The trial scene was nothing short of brilliance, and was smartly delivered in a choppy fast paced grab to convey only the main points and emotionally express the motivations from each side. – Theater Pizzazz

Bars and Measures is exactly what good theater is all about – top notch production in all its mediums, interesting and mindful story-telling, flat out entertaining, and a cast so talented they’ll be stars in their own right any minute, so if you want to say “you knew them when” then now is the time to run to see this play. – Theater Pizzazz

Theater of the highest caliber is yours to enjoy at Urban Stages with their production of “Bars and Measures.” – Theater Pizzazz

…four electrifying and multi-talented actors…make this a hot theatrical experience. – Theater Pizzazz

Abraham Makany and Salma do the job of bringing in other perspectives onstage, rounding out the cast as multiple small roles including a sardonic prison officer and a Muslim vocalist, respectively. Both have fairly thankless roles, but the latter gets to deliver an angelic rendition of a hymn and a few punchy lines toward the end about how Eric’s opposition to Bilal’s Muslim identity affects and invalidates more than just him, hurriedly but memorably driving home the play’s stance on xenophobia at large. – Plays To See

He is also effective in a beautifully directed scene with the excellent [Qarnain], in which we see Eric and Sylvia’s musical collaboration morph into a sexy interaction. – TheaterScene.Net

In addition to portraying Sylvia, [Qarnain] also plays some supporting roles, and she makes each of them a distinct presence…Lawrence, Green and Shaw also bring considerable musical talents to the production, which adds to its overall success. – TheaterScene.Net

The costumes by Sarah Lawrence include outfits that look just like what accomplished young musical artists in an urban setting would wear. The most memorable is a chic ensemble for Sylvia that helps to depict her as a fairly secular Muslim woman with obvious clotheshorse tendencies. – TheaterScene.Net

There were moments of magic when they created music together; and it was a joy to hear Salma sing. – Mary GB, Show-Score, Oct. 28, 2019

My expectations were greatly exceeded…But surprisingly, this is the rare show where supporting actors threaten to eclipse the main ones…Salma was just as versatile, as well as simply being one of the most attractive actresses in town. Play offered them amazing opportunities, which they seized. – Show-Score, Twocents, Nov. 15, 2019

Must see, Masterful, Great acting, Great singing, Absorbing; The 4 actors were excellent! – Show-Score, Maria 8084, Oct. 28, 2019 

See it if: You want to see a talented quartet of young actors who are spirited and very moving in this new play with musical interludes. – Martha 9065, Show-Score, Oct. 25, 2019

Photos: Russ Rowland

Roderick Lawrence and Salma Qarnain. Photo Credit: Russ Rowland.

Photo Credit: Russ Rowland.

Shabaaz Green, Salma Qarnain and Roderick Lawrence. Photo Credit: Russ Rowland.