“HOUSE OF INDIA”

 The Old Globe in Balboa Park is presenting Deepak Kumar’s world premiere “House of India” on the Sheryl and Harvey White Stage through June 8th. 

It’s been a trend of late the use food, mostly ethnic, as the base of many plays. “House Of India” is that and much more. Based on the playwright’s own experiences of visiting his families favorite Indian Restaurant in Michigan when he was young, he set about putting pen to paper and ergo… “House Of India”.

Kumar moved his story to a strip mall in Ohio, where once it was a thriving business. But no more.

Built with the sweat, tears and dreams of Ananya’s (Mahira Kakkar) late husband, the two emigrated from India to open their (his) dream restaurant. Unfortunately, his life was cut short, leaving Ananya, her daughter, Vaidehi ( Supriya Ganesh) and their Thai friend, Jacob (Tommy Bo), who did the cooking with Ananya’s recipes, to carry on. For a time, the restaurant was bustling. 

Declining customers and sales gave way to Jacob suggesting integrating the Indian food with other foods (Indian Tacos?) to bring in more customers. That fell on deaf ears to both mother and daughter; absolutely not!

In the middle of this give and take, Ananya’s son Vikram (Deven Kolluri) shows up to supposedly write about the family restaurant. In case you ask, he’s on assignment, or so we are led to believe.

Supriya Ganesh, Tommy Bo, Mahira Kakkar, Deven Kolluri(back to us)

Now the whole mishpacha go round and round about the fate of the restaurant. But “House Of India” is more than that.  When the restaurant is vandalized, that was the last straw. Jacob suggests they make the restaurant into a fast food place and change the name; get rid of everything as it was, and go for broke, things don't break even for Jacob but he is determined.  

The acting is beyond wonderful; it’s sincere, heartfelt, realistic, and authentic.  At the core is Mahira Kakkar’s Ananya. Like most Moms, what she says, goes, much to the chagrin of Jacob. Jacob, on the other hand wants to make a big deal of the fact that the restaurant was vandalized; more like a hate crime. Naturally Ananya is beside herself with anger. 

Both she and Vaidehi (Supriya Ganesh) are vehemently opposed. Vaidehi has been working another job to help keep the restaurant afloat and has too much invested to let it go. She too is a star in her own right.

Deven Kolluri’s Vikram feels like an ‘also ran’ and needs more development if his character stays in the play. Tommy Bo is bursting with energy hard to capture. The question is, 'does he get his way?' You have to follow the dots in this surprising dramady. 

The playwright touches on immigration, (how this country was made on the backs of immigrants) racial violence, hate crimes, assimilation, family ties and priorities. (No spoilers here) but pay attention to Ananya’s last words.

Director Zi Alikhan lets the action flow at its own pace. 

Credit Chika Shimizu for set design, Cha See, lighting, Fan Zhang sound, and Rodrigo Muñoz, costumes. 

With a few small revisions here and there, this world premiere dramady should go places. 

Enjoy.

See you at the theatre.

When:  Opens May 15 and runs through June 8th. 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays

Where: Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, The Old Globe, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, San Diego

Photo: Rich Soublet II

Tickets: $41 and up

Phone: 619-234-5623

Online: theoldglobe.org