like this

by Borna barzin

“Like This” is set in a lyrical, larger-than-life version of Half Moon Bay, California, on the night of the Winter Solstice, or “Shab-e Yalda.” It follows an East Coast couple, Kaivon and Josh,  on a romantic getaway to Kaivon’s grandmother’s home. Kaivon fails to propose to his boyfriend when his eccentric, dysfunctional family inadvertently interrupts their supposedly secret romantic rendezvous—a comedy of errors that comes to a sudden halt.

Featuring an Iranian-American family and a queer couple, this play explores ritual, trauma, and romance through this perspective without letting their identities generate the conflict. This spectacle features fantastical sequences rooted in magical realism, inviting audiences to celebrate the beauty of life and love amid tremendous, unspeakable loss. Inspired by Shakespeare’s comedies, with an infusion of mysticism and romance from ancient Persian poet Rumi, and a nod to classical Italian opera, this surreal journey is packed with slapstick comedy, heightened emotions, and pure magic.

“Like This” was developed as a part of Borna’s Van Lier Fellowship with the Asian American Arts Alliance. It received a reading at Kapp Kapp Gallery in November of 2024.