Fabulous Family Tale
Newcastle Northern Stage
Until Saturday 13th
May 2017
By Ayub Khan-Din
Directed by Suba Das
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Photo: Pamela Raith
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We
loved the 1999 film at the cinema and we’ve watched it many times on television
so we had high hopes for the Northern Stage drama. The tale about a couple that
try to run a fish and chip shop in 1971 whilst raising 7 kids and keeping loyal
to their beliefs and values still resonates today. How would the Northern Stage
and Nottingham Playhouse co-production compare with the much loved film?
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Photo: Pamela Raith
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In
the opening scene Coronation Street’s Vicky Entwistle plays
wife Ellan Khan who is sat in the living room, discussing life with Auntie
Annie (Judy Flynn). Ellan’s seventh
child Sajit (Viraj Junejo) is wearing the parka coat that he refuses to take
off in bed and he is bouncing around on his bright orange space hopper. George
Khan (Kammy Darweish) soon arrives, angry that Sajit has shown him up at the
mosque as he has not been circumcised. Ellan soon promises to contact the doctor
(Rez Kabir) and to get the problem solved.
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Photo: Pamela Raith
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The
set, designed by Grace Smart, is able to rotate and soon shows husband, of 25
years, George’s fish and chip shop. He employs his large family to do the
chores such as peeling potatoes. Tariq (Omar Malik) is strong and rebellious -
pushing against the order that his father tries to maintain. Saleem (Raj Bajaj)
is at college but he is actually doing an art foundation course rather than the
engineering that he tells his father he is doing. Maneer (Dven Modha) follows
his father’s teaching and is the only sibling that is interested in the Muslim
religion. The eldest son living with the family in Salford is Abdul (Simon Rivers).
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Photo: Pamela Raith
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In
addition to 6 sons there is one daughter, the playful Meenah (Sabrina Sandhu)
whose skirt length is too short for her father’s liking but her mother points
out that it is a part of the school uniform.
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Photo: Pamela Raith
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Of
course East Is East was an Olivier Award winning play by Ayub Khan-Din before
the tale hit the big screen. Please
indulge me as I make comparisons. The play is warmer - the central couple are
seen to be a warm loving couple too - not just a pair of warring factions. The
jokes are as sharp and it doesn’t rely on the violence to cause the
shocks. There is much more about the
conflict between East and West Pakistan that is on the news
which helps draw comparison between family and international strife.
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Photo: Pamela Raith
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Mention
is also made of an eldest son, Nazir, living in Eccles. George mentions that,
in his eyes, he is dead but unlike the film, we never seem Nazir, nor is it
properly explained why he is not in the picture any more.
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Photo: Pamela Raith
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The
script is witty and smart. There are plenty of funny moments scattered
throughout the script. There is also plenty to make you think. The play is
supposed to be set in 1971 and the family face a number of issues with race,
tradition and acceptance. These run in addition to the normal pressures of
family life. I say supposed to be 1971: some of the musical choices seem to be
slightly later and, unless the action all takes place in the first 6 weeks of
the year, money had been decimalised by this point. Saleem asked for money for his art project in
old money. The anachronisms don’t spoil what is a fun evening at the theatre.
There
is swearing, smoking and some violence but it felt less so than the film and it
was all in keeping with the story.
The
set design, along with lighting by Prema Mehta and sound from Christopher
Bartholomew, is both clever and effective. The audience laughed when they saw
Sajit on top of the house.
The
action is well paced throughout the show. Director Suba Dos gets a great
response from the talented cast.
East
Is East is an entertaining and well performed show that tackles the complex
issues of one particular family. Everyone probably thinks their family is weird
and this is certainly the case for the Khan’s. It’s a great show and well worth
checking out.
Review
by Stephen
Oliver.
Tickets:
TUE 18 APR - SAT 13 MAY, 7.30pm
SAT 29 APR, WED 3, SAT 6, WED 10
and SAT 13 MAY, 2pm
Straight from work performance TUE 2 MAY, 6pm
Tickets:
Tue - Fri eves & Sat Matinees: £25 | £20.50 |
£15.50
Sat eves £26 | £20.50 | £15.50
Students & Under 21s £13
Post
show discussion: Tue
2 May
Running time: Approx 2 hours 30 mins (including
interval)
Recommended Age: 14+
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