[2015079] Mush and Me by Karla Crome
Lip Sink Theatre @ Holden Street Theatres – The Arch
9:30pm, Wed 25 Feb 2015
Star-crossed lovers are a dime-a-dozen in the theatre; they are easy characters around which to generate a plot with romance and conflict, offering a lot for audiences to sink their teeth into. So it was with Mush and Me, a tale of a relationship that was never meant to be.
Gabby (Daniella Isaacs) and Mush (Jaz Deol) meet while working in a call centre. They’re both a little apprehensive when they share their vastly different backgrounds – she’s Jewish, he’s Muslim – but they’re soon dating and smitten. Conflict arises, however, when it is revealed that Gabby’s father is dying… and, during bedside vigils and gatherings of family, Mush would not be welcome.
Thereafter come debates about god and humanism, friends and lovers and family; some are thoughtful, some playful, some tear-stained, some aggressive. A well-paced and considerate script doesn’t place blame on one “side” or the other, preferring to let the emotions stand alone; Isaacs and Deol are utterly convincing in their roles.
Whilst it’s hardly a new idea, Mush and Me provided a quality bit of theatre, with a solid script backed up by excellent performances and effective direction. One can only hope that it gets a bigger audience than the handful that turned up for the session this evening.
(79) Mush and Me: Sweet exploration of cross-religion relationships. #ff2015 #ADLfringe
— Pete Muller (@festivalfreakAU) February 25, 2015