Khaled Hosseini’s 2003 novel “The Kite Runner” was a massive hit in the United States, selling more than 10 million copies in this country to date. In 2022, the stage adaptation of that book, adapted by Matthew Spangler, premiered on Broadway.

And on Tuesday night, the epic, devastating touring production opened at the Benedum Center in Downtown Pittsburgh, where it will run through this Sunday.

The story is really history in microcosm. The play follows events in Afghanistan, starting in the early 1970s, through the eyes of its protagonist, Amir (Ramzi Khalaf). He is raised in a wealthy part of Kabul, living with his father, Baba (Haythem Noor), his father’s servant, Ali (Hassan Nazari-Robati) and Ali’s son, Hassan (Shahzeb Zahid Hussain), who is also Amir’s best friend. After witnessing something terrible, Amir betrays Hassan, ending their friendship and causing guilt that he carries for the rest of his life.

Following Amir from childhood in Afghanistan to adulthood in the U.S., the audience witnesses war, emigration, poverty and a battery of harrowing events.

The entire play (2 hours and 30 minutes, with intermission) is narrated by Khalaf’s Amir. He is the eyes through which the audience sees the often brutal twists and turns of the plot. Khalaf moved through the play’s space and time as if all of these events were new to him — as if he was experiencing their horror and humor for the first time. His Amir felt like an old friend by the time the curtain fell, someone telling their story rather than sticking to a script. The burden of “Kite Runner’s” dramatic tension was absolutely enormous, but he managed to shoulder it handily.

As good as Khalaf was, the truly heart-wrenching performance of this production was given by Shahzeb Zahid Hussain, who plays dual roles as Hassan and, later in the second act, a child named Sohrab. Hussain, as this pair of characters, has to endure some of the most difficult trials imaginable, but he gave a quiet and earnest performance that nonetheless got audible reactions from the audience. If Khalaf was an excellent pair of eyes through which to see the play, Hussain was its beating heart.

“The Kite Runner” is ultimately a play about fathers and sons, and Amir’s father, Baba (Haythem Noor) is a complex character with a fascinating narrative arc. Noor portrayed Baba with nuance and emotion. Playing Amir’s wife, Soraya, is Awesta Zarif, who was sincere and charming, especially in her scenes with Amir and Baba. The entire cast, often playing two or three characters, took on the challenges of their roles with aplomb.

Another crucial member of this production was Salar Nader, who provided musical accompaniment to most scenes on the tabla, a percussion instrument native to the region around Afghanistan. Nader’s music often set the atmosphere and tone of a given scene. The sound design elements, thanks to sound designer Drew Baumohl, were also sharp and purposeful, from ringing gunfire to revving motors to some American pop classics once the play’s action moved to San Francisco.

Scenic and costume design by Barney George and projection design by William Simpson were creative and immersive. Charles Balfour lighting design delivered, making moments feel as grand or intimate as the action demanded.

Director Giles Croft, movement director Kitty Winter and fight director Philip D’Orleans all did an especially fantastic job with pulling the audience into each scene.

It cannot be stressed enough that this play is not a lighthearted romp. Despite some lighthearted moments, some events can be shocking and brutal, with descriptions that do not shy from reality. While the ending is not without hope, it’s a maze of tragedy to get there.

That being said, “The Kite Runner” is a haunting, beautiful story that shouldn’t be discounted just because it is difficult. Getting to know these characters may break your heart, but it will also feed your soul.

“The Kite Runner,” part of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh series, runs through Sunday at the Benedum Center, Downtown Pittsburgh. To learn more or get tickets, visit trustarts.org.

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