Theatre Review: A Brimful of Asha Is All You Need In Your Life
A Brimful of Asha had to have been one of the most delightful shows I witnessed at Soulpepper Fest in NYC, and explains why this fest has become and will continue to be a staple of New York summers. Ravi and Asha Jain brought their real life bond as, mother and son, to freshen up the crowd with laughs and samosas. Nothing like actual family to show you what is to be an ACTUAL FAMILY!
Family is the most beautiful, maddening thing we can have because nobody thickens and thins our skins quite like them. It is as if from birth, our mothers and fathers, place every button they wish to push within us form “mood’s sake”. With that notion in hand, Asha Jain shines as the epitome of every loving mom that is convince that she knows best for her child. Every parent laughed and felt a sense of camaraderie with Asha’s blatant and unwavering assertion that she knows how her son, Ravi, should live his life: her way. With only a table between them, the story recounts Asha’s sheer campaign to arrange a marriage for Ravi as per their Indian culture. The thing is Ravi wants to fall in love with his wife; not in a forced arrangement. Yet, watching Ravi Jain’s, who wrote and directed the play, banter with his mom is where sincere and wise social analysis begins to brew. Amongst the hilarious “back and forth”, are two people mutually pondering what “love” is, especially in terms of culture, being an immigrant’s child, and simply being a human. If you read my review for The Big Sick, then you know that “love” can muster cultural differences, especially between a family. The charm of a Brimful of Asha is that, despite, their squabbles and opposing views, Ravi and Asha love and like each other so much.
Ravi and Asha are “parent-child” goals. They are proof that any parent-child clash/ misunderstanding is quelled by the beautiful love and particular humor you share with the ones that raised you. There are times when you want to shake your mom to listen and respect your ways, and Asha proves the feeling is mutual for moms. as well. Yet, at the end of the day, everybody loves their parents, and swears they are the best!. Ravi and Asha prove that the parents we get are like the “perfect marriage”, in essence. They teach us how to better, even when they hilariously treat us like we are the worst. For More Information on Soul Pepper Theatre Academy Click Here, and be on the lookout for next years Soul Pepper Fest.The Perishing Square Theatre, which is located on 480 West 42nd Street.
