A Dramatic Reading of the Play “A Cup of Tea”

Usman Ali, based in Mandi Bahauddin, is Pakistani English-language playwright of nearly 16 plays. His plays have been performed both in Pakistan and the US. He was Playwright in residence at University of Iowa in 2018. He has also directed and acted in his own plays.

The Legendary British Playwright Edward Bond’s Comments on the Play

Thanks for sending my “A Cup of Tea.” You have a gift for writing short plays which is not usual in a playwright who can also write long plays. Tea is a mixture of documentary, tragedy and the Marx’s brothers. It is throughout strictly realistic and yet strangely imaginative. I’m not sure if it is something that just happens as you write or if you have carefully planned and structured it beforehand.  It is powerful because it works from quite simple, almost domestic, things – and yet it is able to jump into very dramatic extremes. As I said I don’t know if this is what you had calculated or it just reflects what I think may be the violence, and contradictions of Pakistan life. Coronavirus is a disease of the human species, its rapid spread comes exactly from the way all societies are now organised, even the poor and undeveloped aspire to it. Your characters are recognisable but  also strange — but then so are Donald Trump and Boris Johnson. They have power but no authority, they mistake petulance and obstinacy for guided purpose. They cling to a raft and imagine the current will take it to the shore,  but it wont, it wont even stay afloat. I think Tea reflects some of all this. You have to take your work very seriously. The play is striking and as Ive said disturbing. The ending is very good. It sums up the play beautifully and creates a sense of the trouble and danger that are afflicting the world.  Its powerful. So congratulations.And I very much hope that Tea will be produced.  And that you can keep well in the present chaos and danger.

Best wishes,  Edward Bond