Company One’s
THE DISPLACED HINDU GODS TRILOGY (@ BCA through Nov. 23rd) is
comprised of three separate plays in which playwright Aditi Brennan Kapil riffs
on the traditional Hindu Trimurti of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Although the
three plays are united by theme, each stands on its own.
In the cheeky CHRONICLES OF KALKI the
playwright demonstrates that Hindu deities, not those famous diamonds, are a
girl’s best friend. Kapil transmutes Vishnu, the protector, into feminine form
to aid a teenager having a hard time navigating high school. Her classmates
ridicule her for being the victim of a cruel sexual prank. Soon thereafter a
new student arrives. The new girl is Kalki who imparts feminist wisdom and a
little vengeance where it’s needed. (You wouldn’t want to get on her bad side.)
Director M Bevin
O’Gara captures the sardonic humor born of teenage angst and she niftily
highlights the bravado which swirls around Kalki. Ally Dawson is larger than life as the
protector/goddess, so powerful she can barely contain her strength. Stephanie
Recio and Pearl Shin are delightful as the mouthy teenagers in trouble with the
law. Brandon Green gives a charming performance as the surprisingly kind
policeman interviewing the two girls. Since Kalki travels via water, rain runs
down the window pane set in lovely, rhythmic, mesmerizing rivulets.
