Anon, a young refugee from a faraway land, travels the country, searching for some semblance of home, and the mother from whom he was separated long ago. Nemasani, a bereaved mother, hope gone, sews her son’s shroud: unraveling at night, and sewing again during the day, putting off a marriage to the sleazy sweatshop boss she detests by refusing to finish her sacred sewing project. Between the two lies the vast and terrifying United States of America, filled with murderous one-eyed butchers, deceptively alluring dive bars, drugged-out Shadows dreaming their lives away, and the constant threat of the authorities -- but also, unexpected friendship, unlooked-for serendipity, and supernatural aid. Watched over by the goddess Naja, supported by a tragic and poetic Chorus of Refugees, Anon must keep his wits about him, trust in his memory, and tell his story, before he can find his mother. Naomi Iizuka’s brutal and beautiful play Anon(ymous), a powerful retelling of Homer’s epic Odyssey, explores ancient themes of identity, coming-of-age, and the shifting nature of home, in the face of displacement. This visually and verbally stunning script is the perfect vehicle for a large cast of multi-generational, diverse performers.
Anon(ymous) guide sections
