William Mastrosimone's play The Afghan Women challenges social issues in Afghanistan from two decades ago that are still prevalent today.

"It is a small, realistic story, which also acts as a metaphor," Director Brant Pope said. "There is a small part of the play and also a larger part."

The smaller part Pope referred to focuses on the story of a female Afghan-American doctor named Malalai who runs an orphanage. After coming to Afghanistan to reclaim a family estate, she establishes and runs an orphanage to care for the abundance of children she encounters in the country. Malalai takes a stand against the Afghan warlord who seizes control of her orphanage and, with the help of three other women, she makes plans to kill him.

In a broader sense, the confrontation between the doctor and the warlord is a metaphor for the Afghan battle between the old ways of the country and new ideas that are being brought to light, Pope said in an e-mail message.

Charles Tucker, an actor from New York, plays the part of the Hamood, the warlord. Tucker has done two previous plays at Penn State, Misalliance and Wit, and he has worked with Pope in the past.

Tucker said Hamood is a naturally unlikable character, and found it hard to say anything positive about the man.

"Hamood is the law, but he is an outlaw," Tucker said. "His understanding of the world is through the eyes of his forefathers and he likes to have complete control. He is a domineering force."

Brianne Beatrice (graduate-theatre) plays Malalai.

"She is a tough and aggressive woman," Beatrice said. "She dresses like a man, acts like a man and would carry a gun to protect herself. She was written to be a very heroic woman."

Mastrosimone, who also is a board member for the Afghanistan operations of International Orphan Care, has been in and out of rehearsals for the show.

"It is a new play and it has never been produced in this form before," Pope said. "It is going straight from here to Broadway, so he has been at Penn State working on the script and watching production."

The cast has been practicing six days a week since early October to prepare for tomorrow's opening at the Playhouse Theatre, in the Arts Building.