Another Factory theatre co-production, this time with Cahoots Theatre.
The play, by Suvendrini Lena deals with the Tamil protest that stopped traffic in Toronto a number of years ago and the impact of the protest on a Tamil family.
Kawa Ada, who is rapidly becoming one if my favourite actors, plays a medical student named Kanan who joins the protest and finds out that his long lost twin brother Kavalan is still alive in Sri Lanka. the family has always thought he was dead. It would not be fair to spoil the plot so let me just say that the brother has haunted his whole family for many years.
Kanan’s father is suffering from brain lesions that cause seizures. Should he have surgery that might help, but might makes things worse? Brain surgery on stage was a first for me. The surgeon, Dr Wagdi, played by Peter Bailey, was very convincing. Doctor Mendoaz, played by Beatriz Pizano was also convincing. Both characters also brought their version of the immigrant experience and statelessness to the play.
The father Thangan played by Sam Kalilieh, mother Sevi, played by Zorana Sadiq and sister, Kavitha played by Aisha Vijayasingham were alll convincing as a family struggling to adapt to a new life in Canada and to cope with the memories of what they left behind.
An excellent play with an excellent cast. Well worth seeing.
Seen 
An excellent exploration of the baggage that refugees may bring with them, even when they may appear to be well integrated into their new society. This was specifically about the Tamil situation, but I am sure many refugees from other conflicts would recognise the situation.
It’s nice to see Factory putting on such different and interesting plays.