A Brimful of Asha - It Will Leave You Wanting More!
From the moment you enter into the theatre you are made to feel welcomed. Real life mother, Asha and son, Ravi greet the audience with a handshake, a smile, a personal introduction and food! Delicious vegetarian samosas are handed out. With the taste of Indian spices and the warmth of a hello, the stage is set to settle in for the next 90 minutes and hear a true family story, the story of finding a wife for Ravi in the traditional Indian way. A tradition that has come into conflict with the Canadian born and raised son.
Both characters connect with us as they tell their sides of the story directly to the audience as well as engaging in conversation with each other. Especially endearing is Asha, who explains to us that she is not an actor, so please excuse her if she forgets a line. Her calm sweet tone is complemented by her beautiful smile and contrasts effectively against the more exuberant, demonstrative mannerisms of her son.
The story of cultural clash between generations is not new, but the approach of a dialogue between real family members over a cup of tea gives it a new perspective. The script is so casual and realistic that the play becomes an intimate experience for all. The mother and son laugh and smile at each other as they recount the story and it is seems that they are both remembering it for the first time, it is so genuine. We feel for Asha as she recounts her own arranged marriage and the loss of her young adult dreams. We are also given a glimpse of understanding as she explains the fundamentals of her religion and the nuances of her culture.
The play is full of witty moments. Asha has the patience to let her son rant and then comes back with calm, sweet one line rebuttals that have the audience laughing. Her comedic delivery and timing are excellent. My only problem was when she is talking to her son across the table her back was to the side of the theatre I was sitting on and it was sometimes hard to hear her. I would have liked to be able to see her face more.
The use of an overhead screen to show family photos and other visuals to illustrate the story was helpful and added to the familiar feel of the play. An audio reenactment of a disastrous overseas phone call was not so effective as it was hard to hear and I felt broke the flow of the story.
A Brimful of Asha is certainly what one leaves this play wanting. At the end of the play I felt compelled to go and sit at the table, pour a cup of tea and listen to Asha tell me more.
This charming performance of A Brimful of Asha is playing at The Art’s Club Theatre's Revue Stage until February 8th with some shows already sold out.