Play depicts life of 'desis' in the US
Arthur J Pais in New York
Some 'desi' parents may think teen pregnancy isn't an issue in their community, but you cannot ignore the reality, says Johan Mathew, co-director of the play 'Sex and Sensibility'.
The play, which is also about the bond between a brother and sister and the dynamics of a 'desi' family, deals with a host of issues, including, interracial dating.
"It is perhaps the most mature of the four plays we have produced here," Mathew says.
Mathew and Shaoli Sarkar direct the play, written and enacted by Princeton University students.
Mathew, a political science student who plans to pursue a career in theatre, has been with Princeton South Asian Theatrics (P-SAT) since it was founded in 1999.
"The play you see now is much different from the one that we staged at Princeton in spring. We have retooled it considerably, fixed the shortcomings and made the happy ending more ambiguous, more true to life," he says.
"We work on a shoestring budget," says co-writer Shashank S Mathur. "That is how it has been from the beginning. And because we have so few resources, our spirits are always very high and we are motivated to do the best in the shortest time."
The past shows were more comedic in nature, he says. "We have comedy in this show too, but I think we are dealing with something more mature. Every show is a learning process and this has demanded quite a bit from us because we are dealing with more serious issues that affect our lives."
The play takes a look at the hypocrisies of 'desis', he says, "but it also celebrates the strength of the community."
"We are frank about what is happening in our community. We also celebrate the good things in the community. We owe that much to it," Mathew says.
P-SAT, the first South Asian Theatre troupe on an American campus, has been examining the lives of South Asians ever since the 'Desis of Our Lives' was performed at the Princeton University four years ago. It was then staged at the Rutgers University, MIT, Brown University, and the University of Pennsylvania.
In 2000, 'Birds, Bees, & Biodata' was performed at the Princeton University, University of Michigan, University of Chicago, and the Ivanhoe Theatre in downtown Chicago.
'Chasing Anjali' played last year at the Princeton University, Rutgers University, Duke University, and the Horizon Theatre in Atlanta.
P-SAT members come from many backgrounds. Some were born in America. Some like Mathew came to America for their high school studies and continued into college. Mathur was born in Cincinnati, but he studied in New Delhi for many years before taking up molecular biology at Princeton.
Around 150 people, including parents and non-desis taking courses in South Asian studies, attend a performance.
"Our impact goes well beyond the South Asian community," says Mathur.
Click here for more information on P-SAT.