HIJRA. Courtyard Theatre to 9 March.

Leeds

HIJRA
by Ash Kotak

West Yorkshire Playhouse (Courtyard Theatre) To 9 March 2002
Runs 2hr 10min One interval

TICKETS 0113 213 7700
Review Timothy Ramsden 16 February

A good time was had by some – but this is a limited exploration of an interesting idea.It's right the West Yorkshire Playhouse should address all its community. And this includes Asians, gays and anyone whose 'good night out' involves the theatre equivalent of easy listening. Hijra's an all-in-one so far as that's concerned. But it's not a very good play.

Nils is a London (I'd guess) living, successful businessman back with the family in India. They want him to settle down. He wants to settle down. But while they're looking for a nice middle-class girl such as Sheila, he's in love with Raj.

The comic device Ash Kotak uses involves the Hijra, a female-impersonating dancer with a semi-mystic place in Indian society. Raj uses his skill to come to England as a woman, Rani. There are, of course, complications.

Unfortunately these involve unlikely coincidence, and characters turning up at the wrong moment from all over the place. Nearest to convincing is local London shopkeeper Mrs Patel, who can wreak havoc with her binoculars, mobile phone and proclivity for gossip.

Kotak has a good store of comic one-liners. But he rarely provides much of a character or situation to go with them. Sitcom beckons strongly. For 28 minutes with a pint or cuppa on the sofa at home, it'd be passable stuff. For two hours with the attention at full paid-for tilt, the gaps show despite some sterling, likeable performances in Ian Brown's gallant damage-limitation production, and a handsome, many purpose set from Belinda Ackermann.

But there seemed little territory unexplored in mainstream British-Asian comedy; such as the innovative, far punchier Goodness Gracious Me or East Is East (whether as play or film). This leaves the gay element as Hijra's main claim to originality.

Its handling may seem more forceful to some audience members than to others. At least it brings together, if not investigating the result, Indian tradition and a modern, assimilated lifestyle. There again, as John Godber for one has shown, there is an audience for easy laughs, as for easy listening.

Sheila: Mala Ghedia
Indira: Harvey Virdi
Madhu: Josephine Welcome
Aunt/Announcer/Mrs Patel: Charubala Chokshi
Nils: Guy Rhys
Guru: Harmage Singh Kalirai
Hijra/Bobby: Rez Kempton
Raj/Rani: Raj Ghatak

Director: Ian Brown
Designer: Belinda Ackermann
Lighting: Tim Skelly
Sound: Mic Pool
Movement: Faroque Khan

2002-02-18 15:26:36