After forays in Thailand (Fieldwork) and Haiti (Peacekeeping), National Book Award finalist Mischa Berlinski sets Mona Acts Out in New York City, over what should have been an extended family holiday--and its interrupted aftermath. While hosting Thanksgiving dinner, Mona Zahid makes an excuse about needing parsley and walks out of her Upper West Side apartment, taking only her beagle.
Mona is a leading stage actress in middle age and an integral member of Disorder'd Rabble, a "guerilla Shakespeare company" founded 50 years ago by legendary director Milton Katz. Milton's recently been exiled in a highly publicized #MeToo ousting. Left at home with Mona's in-laws is her niece, Rachel, who was the damning New York Times article's "Anonymous Source Number Three." Mona's runaway foray takes her (uninvited) to another Milton-victim's lively Friendsgiving. The next morning, refusing to return to her family, she ventures instead to Milton's Brooklyn townhouse. The timing may be inconvenient, but after avoiding Milton for a year, Mona can't be silent any longer.
Berlinski wields details that brilliantly highlight the grey areas between polarizing absolutes. He slyly uses humor as both weapon (beagle Barney is a savvy barometer of human behaviors) and softener (a Tamil taco stand owner watching--and judging--Mona's public doggie duty). His impressive familiarity with all things Bard notably enhances his narrative--tragic heroes, flawed humanity, "all the world's a stage." His author's note offers intriguing provenance--that although a NYT article about Israel Horowitz served as inspiration, Milton is otherwise not based on that director. Rife with resonance, Berlinski presents a can't-turn-away performance. --Terry Hong