Calcutta Kosher. To 27 March.

Tour

CALCUTTA KOSHER
by Shelley Silas

Kali Theatre Company in association with Tara Arts. Tour to 27 March 2004
Runs: 2hr 20min One interval
Review: Jan Pick: 9 March at Birmingham Rep Door.

Skeletons from the past rattle family bones in a lively, intelligent play.The skeleton in the family cupboard rattles its bones to shocking effect in this witty and perceptive play written by Shelley Silas and performed by Kali Theatre Company.

Two daughters fly home for the first time in many years, to visit their dying mother, matriarch of one of the last surviving Jewish families in Calcutta. They are to be presented with a bombshell that rocks their perceptions not only of their mother but of themselves. As the evening progresses they begin to reassess their lives and attitudes and recognise the Jewish identity that binds them in a common bond.

The action takes place over one evening, and is set in the living room of Mozelle (a wry and well-judged performance from Jamila Massey) confronted by her daughters, the conventional and well-behaved Esther from London - a sensitive and sympathetic interpretation by Harvey Virdi - and the brash, rebellious Silvie now settled in California (played with great relish and panache by Shelley King).

These complacent, demanding daughters are balanced beautifully by the quiet and decorous Maki of Seema Bowri and the dignified Siddique of Richard Santhiri, who love and care for Mozelle from day to day and share her life.

A few glitches in the sound effects did not detract from the general excellence of the ensemble playing and the fascination of the story as it unfolded. There are plays produced in experimental small spaces that deserve a wider audience; Calcutta Kosher is one of them. It's an intensely interesting, lively and intelligent evening's theatre.

Maki: Seema Bowri
Silvie: Shelley King
Mozelle: Jamila Massey
Siddique: Richard Santhiri
Esther: Harvey Virdi

Director: Janet Steel
Designer: Magdalen Rubalcava
Lighting: Flick Ansell
Composer: Sayan Kent
Assistant director: Sonja Appel

2004-03-12 08:27:24