About the Show

A new thriller tracking the human cost of immigration policy.

Taroon once served as an interpreter for the U.S. military in Afghanistan. Now the Americans — and their promises of safety — have withdrawn, and he spends his days in hiding, a target of the increasingly powerful Taliban. On the eve of his son’s birth, Taroon must remain in his sister’s apartment or risk his life to see his child. Sylvia Khoury’s play looks at the overlooked legacy of America’s longest — and ongoing — war.

Critic Reviews (5)

In Selling Kabul, Khoury employs the basic tools of stage thrillers to evoke the plight of a family caught in deadly political crossfire… As tense and involving as Selling Kabul is, however, one wishes that certain inconsistencies had been ironed out in the months since its thwarted March 2020 debut… Still, Khoury is a talent to watch.
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"Khoury’s achievement is unmistakable...Since Selling Kabul is a high-wire drama, worse developments befall Taroon, Afiya, Jawid, and Layla. The four are a row of vertical dominoes collapsing, though no further shocks will be itemized here. It’s enough to say “drama” hardly begins to describe what goes on. Even moments of melodrama poke through. Aside from Layla’s initial visit and an exchange between Taroon and Jawid towards fade-out, bickering and outright knockdown-drag-outs dominate."
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Will a former Afghani U.S. Armed Forces interpreter get himself and his family out of the country before he’s captured by the Taliban in 2013? This is the crux of playwright Sylvia Khoury’s gripping, thoughtful and suspenseful drama, Selling Kabul. In a straight through 100 minutes, Ms. Khoury crafts an accessible overview of that conflict, sets up a compelling story and employs a classic plot device. Khoury’s smooth passionate dialogue imparts exposition and biographical details while advancing action with technical accomplishment.
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"With “Selling Kabul” playwright Sylvia Khoury gives us a thoughtful, riveting exploration of the human costs of war once the fight is over for the state, but ongoing for the individuals decommissioned from the effort – on every level."
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As timely as the drama might be, I think it would be a mistake for theatergoers to rely on “Selling Kabul” as a source of information about Afghanistan or the U.S. involvement there. Rather, it is a twisty drama that benefits from a fine production ….an increasingly taut weave that tightens around the characters’ necks. If you look too closely, though, there are some holes in that weave
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Cast and creative team