ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery – Shows I've Seen

Guards at the Taj – Play – Review – ArtsWest & Pratidhwani

@showsiveseen Rajiv Joseph's "Guards at the Taj" #play at ArtsWest w/ Pratidhwani. Starring @Kainkain & Sumant Gupta. Live music from Sampada Bhalerao (#sitar) & Jayant Bhopatkar (#tabla). Good horrifying brutal dilemmas. Review: showsiveseen.com/9807 Director: Samip Raval #showsiveseen #theatre #india #indian #TajMahal #southAsian #southAsia ♬ Taaza Hawa Lete Hain – Altaf Raja

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Rajiv Joseph’s Guards at the Taj play at ArtsWest w/ Pratidhwani. Starring Varun Kainth & Sumant Gupta. Live music from Sampada Bhalerao (sitar) & Jayant Bhopatkar (tabla). Good horrifying brutal dilemmas. #india #indian #TajMahal #southAsian #southAsia

Recommendation:
See it if you’re okay with 2-person shows with mostly dialogue.

My Synopsis (No Spoilers): Two guards at the Taj Mahal grapple with enforcing the barbaric oppressive edicts of their authoritarian autocratic regime. In the end, they face the ultimate dilemma.

Synopsis from the Licensor or Theatre Company: In 1648 India, two Imperial Guards watch from their post as the sun rises for the first time on the newly-completed Taj Mahal—an event that shakes their respective worlds. When they are ordered to perform an unthinkable task, the aftermath forces them to question the concepts of friendship, beauty, and duty, and changes them forever. GUARDS AT THE TAJ is one of Pulitzer Prize Finalist Rajiv Joseph’s seminal works.

Attended Performance Date: Opening Weekend 9/14/24 – Keep your eyes peeled for preview posts on my website and social media if you want earlier notification of shows I’ve seen. This show closes on 10/6/24!

Type: Play

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Few

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Few

Static (Stationary) Set? Yes

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No, but you might appreciate this more if you’re familiar with Indian history. I was not and I kept wondering “Holy crap, did these historical events really happen?!”

Defined Plot/Storyline: It was more dialogue than story.

Equity Actors: 0

Total Number of Actors: 2

Perceived Pace of the Show: Slow to medium

Was there an intermission? No

Length (Including Any Intermission): Less than 90 minutes

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? Yes

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? No

Mainstream Appeal: Low to medium

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned Above

Traditional Live Music: Sampada Bhalerao played the sitar while Jayant Bhopatkar played the tabla before the show and during the show. They also added some mild sound effects as well during the play.

Theatre Company: ArtsWest and Pratidhwani

Venue: ArtsWest

Venue Physical Address: 4711 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116

Price Range: $46

Dates: September 12 to October 6, 2024

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking: There are paid lots and free street parking. I usually park on 44th or 45th Ave behind the theatre.

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Buy a Ticket or Learn More:

https://www.artswest.org/events/guards-at-the-taj/

Cast and Production Team: See after pictures below.

Preview Post – Guards at the Taj – Play – ArtsWest & Pratidhwani

Happy opening weekend to Rajiv Joseph’s Guards at the Taj play (including live sitar/tabla music) at ArtsWest w/ Pratidhwani. Catch the show until 10/6. Stay tuned for my full review! #india #indian #TajMahal #southAsian #southAsia

Tickets: https://www.artswest.org/events/guards-at-the-taj/

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Clyde’s – Play – Review – ArtsWest & The Hansberry Project

@showsiveseen So #hungry from Lynn Nottage's "Clyde's" #play by ArtsWest & The Hansberry Project that I bought a #sandwich after the show. Wonderful realistic scenic design of a gritty #restaurant #kitchen from Jennifer Zeyl. Good commentary on #exfelons' reintegration into society. Performing until 6/30. #excriminals #exconvicts #theatre #showsiveseen #food ♬ Don't Let the Green Grass Fool You (2006 Remaster) [Single Version] – Wilson Pickett

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): So hungry from Lynn Nottage’s Clyde’s play by ArtsWest & The Hansberry Project that I bought a sandwich after the show. Wonderful realistic scenic design of a gritty restaurant kitchen from Jennifer Zeyl. Good commentary on ex-felons’ reintegration into society. #excriminals #exconvicts

Recommendation
See it, especially if you enjoy plays that are more dialogue than action.

Synopsis from the Theatre or Licensor: In CLYDE’S, a truck stop sandwich shop offers its formerly incarcerated kitchen staff a shot at redemption. Even as the shop’s callous owner tries to keep them down, the staff members learn to reclaim their lives, find purpose, and become inspired to dream by their shared quest to create the perfect sandwich.

Attended Performance Date: Opening Weekend 6/8/24 – Keep your eyes peeled for preview posts on my website and social media if you want earlier notification of shows I’ve seen. Buy your tickets now since the run ends 6/30.

Type: Play

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: A couple

Several or Few Settings/Locations: One, a kitchen

Static (Stationary) Set? Yes

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No

Defined Plot/Storyline: The script was less action and more dialogue. I usually don’t prefer dialogue plays, but this script was easier to enjoy than other plays with less story.

Equity Actors: 2

Total Number of Actors: 5

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium speed

Was there an intermission? No

Length (Including Any Intermission): 90 minutes

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? Yes

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? No, but it was good

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned Above

Food-themed Plays: Incorporating food in live theatre is such an effective (and easy?) way to win over the audience. It awakens the primal hunger response in all of us. Even now, I’m still making sandwiches at home because of the play … and I usually don’t make sandwiches. I even started making my own mayonnaise!

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

Clyde: It took me a while to realize that Tracy Michelle Hughes was Clyde. I was expecting a guy.
Symbolism: The script makes you think. And I have so many unanswered questions on its symbolism. Like, what did the relish represent? What did Clyde represent? Did a sandwich represent hope? What did Clyde eating represent? What did the fire represent?
Ending (No Spoiler): Similarly, I didn’t understand play’s last couple seconds. Also, what was the script’s ultimate message?

Theatre Company: ArtsWest and The Hansberry Project

Venue: ArtsWest

Venue Physical Address: 4711 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116

Price: $40-45

Tickets: https://www.artswest.org/events/clydes/

Dates: June 6 to June 30, 2024

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking: There are paid lots and free street parking. I usually park on 44th or 45th Ave behind the theatre.

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Buy a Ticket or Learn More:

https://www.artswest.org/events/clydes/

Pictures: See pictures below and in video above by John Mclellan.

In Partnership with The Hansberry Project ArtsWest presents *Clyde’s* by Lynn Nottage. Directed by Valerie Curtis-Newton. Photo by John Mclellan.

Preview Post – Clyde’s – Play – ArtsWest & The Hansberry Project

Happy opening weekend to Lynn Nottage’s Clyde’s play at ArtsWest with The Hansberry Project. Performing until 6/30. Stay tuned for my full review! #sandwich #hungry #food #felons #criminals #excons #restaurant #kitchen

Final Full Review (Posted 6/21/24): https://www.showsiveseen.com/clydes-play-review-artswest-the-hansberry-project/

Tickets: https://www.artswest.org/events/clydes/

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English – Play – Review – ArtsWest & Seda Iranian Theatre Ensemble

@showsiveseen Sanaz Toossi's #English #play at ArtsWest w/ Seda Iranian Theatre Ensemble starring Vahishta Vafadari. Clever accent switching dramatic device. Thoughtful contrasting commentary on ethnic/racial identity in an English-dominated global society. Closes this weekend. Sold out, waitlist only! #ethnicity #race #language #ESL #theatre #showsiveseen #TOEFL #iranian #Farsi #Parsi #Persian #bilingual #identity #accent ♬ Get Ready – SUPER-Hi & NEEKA

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): English play at ArtsWest w/ Seda Iranian Theatre Ensemble. Clever accent switching dramatic device. Thoughtful contrasting commentary on ethnic/racial identity in an English-dominated global society. Closes this weekend. Sold out, waitlist only! #ethnicity #race #language #ESL #theatre #showsiveseen #TOEFL #iranian #Farsi #Parsi #Persian #bilingual #identity #accent

Recommendation
See it if either 1) you’re bilingual, 2) you have immigrant connections, 2) or you’re okay with plays that are mostly dialogue and less action.

Synopsis from the Theatre: Two words set in motion award-winning playwright Sanaz Toossi’s intricate and profound New York debut: “English Only.” This is the mantra that rules one classroom in Iran, where four adult students are preparing for the TOEFL — the Test of English as a Foreign Language. Chasing fluency through a maze of word games, listening exercises, and show-and-tell sessions, they hope that one day, English will make them whole. But it might be splitting them each in half.

Attended Performance Date: 4/19/24 – Keep your eyes peeled for my preview posts on my website and social media if you want earlier notification of shows I’ve seen. Since the remaining show run (ending 4/28/24 this weekend) is sold out, read how to join the waitlist here.

Type: Play

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: One – a classroom

Static (Stationary) Set? Yes

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No, but you’d probably appreciate this more if you’re not Caucasian American/British/Commonwealth.

Defined Plot/Storyline: Not really. It was more a collection of exercises and discussions in a classroom throughout a semester.

Equity Actors: 2

Total Number of Actors: 5

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium speed

Length (Including Any Intermission): 1.5 hours

Was there an intermission? No

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? Yes

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? No

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned Above

Accent Switching: In the first scene, I immediately noticed the actors delivered their lines switching between an Iranian and an American accent. Initially, I thought this was bad acting and breaking character. But after a couple of minutes, I realized their American accent portrayed that they were speaking Farsi (Persian) while their Iranian accent portrayed that they were speaking English. This novel approach effectively conveyed distinct languages to an English-speaking audience without using subtitles.
Recording: Another clever theatre device was the English recording the Iranian characters listened to. The recording was intentionally difficult for the audience to understand. This effectively portrayed how non-English speakers hear English.
Ethnic Identity: As a second-generation immigrant, it was comforting to observe the dynamic commentary on internalized racism, the subsequent resentment of colonialism, and ethnic identity. It brought to light many conscious and unconscious questions I asked myself while growing up in the USA as a child of first-generation immigrant parents. Like why does the English accent of my people sound ugly? Why are all the “desirable accents” from Caucasian countries? If I was born in the USA, why do I still sometimes feel like a foreigner? What would it be like to live outside this ethnic limbo since I didn’t grow up with people who look like me? What would it have been like to grow up in a society where I was part of the majority? Similarly, one of the play’s characters posed the question, what would global society be like if the Persian empire was still the dominant superpower?
Favorite Line: “Our mothers get to name us. Not foreigners.” This quote reminds me of immigrants who have an American name in addition to their original name.

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

Unanswered Questions: I still don’t understand why the teacher Marjan (played by Vahishta Vafadari) left the UK and Omid (played by Emon Elboudwarej) left the USA.

Theatre Company: ArtsWest and Seda Iranian Theatre Ensemble

Venue: ArtsWest

Venue Physical Address: 4711 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116

Price: Cheap to Medium

Tickets: The remaining show run is sold out! See how to join the waitlist here.

Dates: April 4 – 28, 2024

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking: There are paid lots and free street parking. I usually park on 44th or 45th Ave behind the theatre.

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