A Brimful of Asha
Why Not Theatre
9 October 2019
Beckett Theatre
to 13 October
www.festival.melbourne
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| Ravi and Asha Jain. "Brimful of Asha" |
If I had a mother like Asha, and a family like the Jains, I'd probably be married. I'd probably be at the finding partners for my children stage. And I'd be able to make damn good samosas. Maybe Asha is right?
Ravi Jain was born in Canada and his parents are from India; he explains that he's Canadian and they are Indian. In his late 20s, after he'd studied and travelled and was forming his own theatre company, his parents knew that it was time for him to get married; after all, he was 27! A Brimful of Asha is Ravi and his mum, Asha, telling the story of how his family tried to introduce him to a suitable wife.
Ravi is a theatre maker; Asha doesn't really like theatre, but she's determined to convince Ravi and the audience that she did the right thing. He's determined to convince Asha that meeting someone you like and getting married when and if you want to is the right thing.
Asha and Ravi meet the audience as they come in and offer a samosa, made by Asha. Sitting at a family table with a pot of tea, they tell the story about how Ravi's parents and family did their best to arrange a marriage for him; after all, it worked for their generation. The Jains are clearly a very happy and loving family. How many people would perform a show with their mum and tour the world?*
The show began when Ravi told his mum how his friends love hearing the stories of the arrangements and that he wanted to make a theatre show out of it. She wanted to make sure that her side was heard. She'd never been on stage, and doesn't really get what her son does, but they started telling the story to audiences and began writing.
At times, the arrangement experience is still excruciatingly embarrassing for Ravi and hilarious for anyone who wasn't in that same situation, bu this story never demeans or dismisses his parents and their beliefs. Even if Asha weren't on stage telling her story, Ravi wouldn't think of humiliating his parents. And lots of people tell Asha that she's right.
Ravi also gets the opportunity to ask his mum if she followed her dreams, despite her happiness and family.
It's ultimately a story about love and family and all the ways love is shown in families. There's a lot of joy and, but, as Asha says, fighting with her husband is also one of the best things about being married.
Telling our stories creates community and breaks down barriers that never really existed in the first place. Being welcomed into this story is delightful.
* There's also Hannah and Angela Norris in After You.
The Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim) remix.
