Krishnan’s Dairy depicts a day in the life of a young Indian family in their deli, or dairy as it is known in New Zealand, and also tells the great love story of the Taj Mahal. Presented by the New Zealand Indian Ink Theatre Company, Krishnan’s Dairy is funny one moment and full of pathos the next. It tells a contemporary and multi-layered story of love, of migration and culture. The multiple strands of the piece are deftly woven into a comprehensive and engaging story that catches the audience’s laughter with sighs of sadness. This balance of humour and pathos is held in delicate balance by the one performer, the highly skilled and mesmerising Jacob Rajan (incidentally also the writer) who plays the storyteller, Gobi the dairy owner, his wife Zina, their son and the Prince and Princess of the Taj Mahal love story. Jacob Rajan uses mask to skilfully change from one character to the next. He also incorporates song, classical Indian dance, mime and touches of object manipulation verging on puppetry. The masks have an essence of the Commedia half mask and have been beautifully crafted by Justin Lewis, also the director of the performance. His masks with the combined efforts of Rajan’s performance abilities, takes the audience away from any thought of paper-maché and into a world full of emotion and rich with vitality.
The setting is beautifully and simply done with drops of brightly coloured fabric forming the deli walls with a shop counter and flower stand in front and the Krishnan’s home at the back. The lighting illuminates and makes intelligent use of the space as the piece moves from shop front to the Krishnan’s home and into the exotic world of the Taj Mahal story.
Krishnan’s Dairy is my dream of theatre realised. It is aurally, visually, physically and intellectually dynamic story telling.
The Adelaide Festival Centre’s CentreStage program presents
Indian Ink Theatre Company’s
KRISHNAN’S DAIRY
Venue: Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide Festival Centre
Dates/Times: 24 - 28 April @ 8pm, 26 April @11am
Bookings: BASS 131 246 or www.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au