Mrs. Krishnan’s Party
Reviewed by Socks Whitmore
The Edye at Broad Stage
Thru July 24
RECOMMENDED
It’s a rare treat in Los Angeles to experience theater from across the globe, and this month, a special immersive experience has flown in from New Zealand; Mrs. Krishnan’s Party, a production of Indian Ink Theater Company, which has brought its boxes of convenience store stock and the savory smell of simmering dal chawal to the Edye at the Broad Stage.
The idea is simple: James, a friendly and earnest kiwi teen who lives with his parents’ friend-of-a-family-friend, Mrs. Krishnan, at her convenience store, has invited everyone to a celebration of the Keralite holiday Onam. Over the course of the show, the audience is educated on the history of Onam and the Hindu mythology behind it, such as the figure King Mahabali that James has dressed as. But the real narrative lies within the back-and-forth between James and Mrs. Krishnan herself — who had not been previously informed about any of James’s party plans — and gradually discovering the personalities and histories of this odd but endearing pair. The whole show takes place in a space with no built-in stage; VIP ticket holders are invited to sit at the center table with James, while regular admission attendees gather in rows on either side surrounded by boxes of canned goods and toiletries.
In the writer’s notes by co-playwrights Justin Lewis and Jacob Rajan, it is revealed that this show is somewhat of a sequel to the first play they wrote together, Krishnan’s Dairy: the love story of two Indian immigrants and their corner shop in New Zealand. This first play is reported to have had a massive impact on the New Zealand theater scene, but you don’t need to have seen it to follow the story; the events in Mrs. Krishnan’s Party take place many years after Krishnan’s Dairy and Kalyani Nagarajan as Mrs. Krishnan stands solidly on her own in her character’s onstage reprisal. Her anxiety and maternal scolding are a delightful comedic contrast to Justin Rogers as the warm, sometimes oblivious young James and his good intentions. Both actors shine with their distinct mannerisms and aptitude to roll with the punches, making for great amounts of laughter. They also showcase an ability to levy the mirth with more serious moments from the script, bringing an important nuance to their characters.
Though not necessarily advertised as such, this show is inarguably immersive in nature. The personable James acts as host, introduces “guests” to each other, and cultivates a cozy, familiar vibe as if you truly are at a party making friends. There are moments of call and response, opportunities to handle props or be given tasks to help the party come together —more than once, audience members are invited to dance with James to the elaborate playlist of contemporary Indian music, which can result in quite an interesting sight as people of all ages, backgrounds, and comfortability with public dancing gradually let the welcoming energy relax them. The execution of audience engagement is impeccable from start to finish, from remembering individual’s’ names to creating custom “bits” that make each performance’s humor unique. And the cherry on top is actually a takeaway box of a lentil curry with rice; the actors use real food and water on stage (no small feat for a show performing, and thus cleaning up, almost every day of the week) to produce a vegetarian food offering for any interested guests to take home.
The tiered ticketing system of “Wallflower,” “In-Crowd,” and “Top Table” seating creates an accessible space by offering audience members of all kinds to pick their preferred level of artist interaction. Shy theater-goers may be challenged by this engaging performance, but if you can muster up the courage, this reviewer thinks it will be quite worth it.
The Edye at Broad Stage, 1310 11th Street, Santa Monica; Tues.-Sat., 8:00 pm; Sat. 3:00 pm; Sun. 2:00 pm; thru July 24. https://broadstage.org/performances/2022-23/theatre/mrskrishnansparty Running time: 75 minutes
