Ensemble Theatre’s production of ‘The North Pool’ goes for the real

Arab student Khadhim Asmaan is a recent transfer from one of the top private high schools in the state (with just over 100 students) to lowly Sheffield High School (home of the Tigers and over 3,000 students). Khadhim has been summoned to the Vice-Principal’s office for “a chat” as the school empties for two weeks of spring break. Vice Principal Dr. Danielson arrives and the eighty minute cat and mouse game begins in Rajiv Joseph’s The North Pool.

Dr. Danielson begins by trying to become Khadim’s BFF but the eighteen year old is having none of it. Initially, the V.P. seems only interested in why the young Arab skipped French class the previous Tuesday. It soon becomes apparent that Khadhim is a pathological liar as Danielson reveals the truth that he already knows. Khadhim is given an hour detention to be served immediately.

There are problems at Sheffield High. What began as graffiti and pranks (including the south swimming pool being turned into jello) has escalated to broken windows as well as theft and damage of school property. Due to his newness to the school and possibly his ethnic links Khadhim is a suspect, more so when the basement lockers surrounding his own 000 locker are found to hold possible bomb making equipment along with other contraband including PVC pipe, high end clothing and accessories along with aviary antibiotics.

Seeing that the gig is up, Asmaan begins to open up about his various business fronts that include the smuggling of rare parrots (which got him kicked out of his former school) and his black market clothing store. At the crux of the matter is the suicide death of Leah who was one of Khadhim’s few friends (along with drug dealing pal ‘Dozier’). The young girl, a musical prodigy brought to the school by the Vice Principal, was also receiving counseling from Danielson whose PhD is in psychology.

The North Pool referred to in the title is a semi-secret bomb shelter left over from the 50s (when Danielson was a young student) that was accessed through a series of crawl space tunnels that honeycomb the huge school complex. It references to the seemingly ‘safe place’ that both men are searching for after the tragic loss of Leah.

Once Danielson begins to realize that Asmaan is not a terrorist threat he begins to see a brilliant student who speaks over a half dozen languages fluently, has extensive travel experience and a complex black market empire. He also finds a man much like himself who is shouldering the blame for the troubled young girl’s death.

Each man is wearing a hair shirt because of their perceived failure. Danielson blames himself for not digging deeper in to Leah’s problems and Asmaan for introducing the girl to what amounted to a world of high school prostitution. Each man seeks forgiveness.

While Santino Montanez has the look of a beefy senior it is a stretch to think of him as being a member of the track team. Wrestling or football would have been a better fit. Regardless, His portrayal as a troubled youth is spot on from his opening disregard for authority to his eventual emotional opening up. David Vegh* as Dr. Danielson gives a measured performance as he takes his time in changing from friendly pal to prosecutor back to caring administrator. The set is bleak and authentic for any of us who had the misfortune of being called to “the office.”

*Member of Actors Equity Association

There is profanity, sexual references and adult themes including talk about suicide and should be avoided by those sensitive to such topics.

Set in real time, The North Pool shows in detail what could be considered a life changing segment in two men’s lives. It also shows how faulty data can lead to snap judgments that could lead to negative consequences much later on in people’s lives. This show is well drawn and well acted.

Ensemble Theatre’s production of The North Pool will be on stage through May 21, 2017 at their Coventry Building location at 2843 Washington Blvd in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Tickets may be purchased online by going to www.ensembletheatrecle.org or by phone at (216) 321-2930.