Quixote in Kabul by Danny Bryck

"Quixote in Kabul" reimagines Miguel de Cervantes' classic novel Don Quixote as the inner journey of a Latino American soldier stationed in Afghanistan. Sergeant Quijana is a true patriot, following in the footsteps of his father, who fought in the first Gulf War. He takes a private named Sanchez (a contemporary take on Sancho Panza), under his wing, and inspires him to believe they are fighting...
"Quixote in Kabul" reimagines Miguel de Cervantes' classic novel Don Quixote as the inner journey of a Latino American soldier stationed in Afghanistan. Sergeant Quijana is a true patriot, following in the footsteps of his father, who fought in the first Gulf War. He takes a private named Sanchez (a contemporary take on Sancho Panza), under his wing, and inspires him to believe they are fighting for a just cause, just as knights of old fought for truth and chivalry. When a split-second decision in the field goes horribly wrong, Quijana loses his faith, and his grip on reality. Written with the help of Air Force veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and full of metatextual parallels to Cervantes' novel that illuminate connections between past and present, "Quixote in Kabul" provokes questions of patriotism and the ethics of war, examines the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder on soldiers, and explores the parallels between the ongoing effects of colonization and imperialism in Latin America and in the Middle East.
  • Recommend
  • Download
  • Save to Reading List

Quixote in Kabul

Recommended by

  • Cheryl Bear:
    23 Mar. 2020
    “ A fascinating adaptation of Don Quixote to modern day warfare and its effects. Excellent work! ”

Character Information

The play is to be performed with live music. This can be done in a variety of ways; musicians are not included in the list of characters.

Care should be taken to cast consciously, with the understanding that identity is complicated and not all actors of Latinx or Middle Eastern background necessarily present or identify as people of color.

  • Quijana
    20's/ early 30's,
    Latinx
    ,
    Male
    Sergeant in the Army Infantry, stationed in Afghanistan, 3rd generation Puerto Rican–American, from New York
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any actor of color
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • Sanchez
    20's/ early 30's,
    Latinx
    ,
    Male
    Private in the Army Infantry, stationed in Afghanistan, 2nd generation Chicano, from California
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any actor of color
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • Raqib
    20's/ early 30's,
    Afghan/ Middle Eastern
    ,
    Male
    Afghan-American interpreter, 2nd generation, also from California
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any actor of color
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • Flamenca
    Female or Non-binary
    Dancing role, non-speaking (possibly sings)
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary

Development History

  • Commission
    ,
    Boston University
    ,
    2015

Production History

  • University
    ,
    Boston University
    ,
    2015