A psychotherapist in Calcutta treats two patients by hypnotic regression. His male patient seems to have issues with suffocation and drowning. The female patient is still processing the passing of her beloved Nana and struggles with a fear abandonment. The good doctor accompanies them on their journeys through past lives and milieus: a vibrant fishing village, a tony British Officer’s Club, intrepid merchant caravans, an exquisite palace and a chilling dungeon. He helps them identify key events that foment trauma, and work through the pain, so they can move forward. Gradually his two patients are able to resolve past catastrophes and heal their broken spirits.
A collaboration between Mainstage Irving and Think India Foundation, The Red Pashmina is an intriguing, beguiling musical, crafted to forge a bridge between the Indian and Theatre Communities here in the metroplex. Strategically written to maximize our experience of exotic climes, radiant and sumptuous costumes, intoxicating, celebratory dances, and a compelling variety of themes such as tragedy, colonialism, romance, terror, frustration and valiance, The Red Pashmina draws us into the thick of its splendid narrative. Our hearts ache for the young man and woman who have hit roadblocks in their lives, as they uncover the details of their personal histories. The story is brimming with adventure and rich emotion, it never drags, or lacks for surprise. Beneath the plot and performance, a celebratory, kinetic energy suffuses the proceedings, stirring our souls and gladdening our hearts.
The Red Pashmina turns primarily, gloriously on spectacle, awash in dazzling colors, meticulous choreography, elaborate, evocative scenery and gorgeous music that transports us to otherworldly, astonishing realms. The allure and enchantment of this show is remarkable and unmistakable. It has such joie de vivre, such warmth, such irresistible charm and panache. The good folks at Main Stage and Think India were gracious enough to let me review this marvelous musical, knowing it would close before I could post my column. What a joyous tribute to the spirit of harmony. I will be forever grateful for the privilege. The Red Pashmina will remain with me for a long time, it was: “…such stuff as dreams are made on.”
Main Stage Irving: 3333 North MacArthur Blvd, Irving, Texas 75062. (972) 594-6104. www.irvingtheatre.org Think India Foundation: 682.463.9201. info@thinkindia.foundation. www.thinkindia.foundation
PRODUCERS
Samir Bhargava • James West • Ramesh Thiagarajan • Asit Kini
SHOW CONCEPT & ARTISTIC DIRECTION
(Script, Music Arrangement, Choreography, Direction)
Anisha Srinivasan • Shatarupa Purohit • Shibani Limaye
Malti Srinivasan • Ravi Srinivasan
SCENIC DESIGN
Joseph Cummings
LIGHTING DESIGN
Kyle Harris
SOUND DESIGN
Isaac Abraham
VIDEO DESIGN
Vijay Gurow
MASTER CARPENTER
Steven Merritt
COSTUME DESIGN
Shatarupa Purohit • Radhika Ganesh • Shanti Ravi • Rhea Kamat
ARTISTIC SUPPORT
Aarthi Ramesh • Prabhu Shankar • Prakash Kagal
Radhika Ganesh • Renuka Kant • Shraddha Dharia • Shravan Gaddam
Shubha Ramakrishnan • Shukra Seshadri
PERFORMERS
Aarav Gaddam • Aarnav Kamat • Aarthi Ramesh • Advait Kshirsagar • Anand Natarajan
Anusha Adinarayanamurthy • Ashwin Kumar • Asit Kini • Chanda Crane
Clayton Cunningham • Darby Blakeman • Dhvani Sharma • Frances Lydia Zavier
Gurleen Kaur • Harish Venkat • Jake Blakeman • James West • Jayesh Thamburaj
Johnny Edgett • Keith Kubal• Ken Crane • Kiran Raut • Mahi Raut • Manoj Balraj
Manoj Pillai • Marie West • Niharika Kamat • Prathama Pathak • Prathima Bhat
Priyanka Potturi • Rajesh Adusumilli • Rajeshwari Prabhune • Rakshak Iyengar
Ranjan Misra • Rashmi Vatsan Renuka Kant Rhea Kamat • Sai Veda Rallabandi
Samanvi Velagapudi • Samhita Kumar • Samir Shah • Sanjana Manikandan
Shamli Asanare • Shanmugapriya Murugakathiresan • Shravan Gaddam
Shukra Seshadri • Simran Misra • Sneha Velayudham • Sruthi Potturi • Sruthi Venkat
Stephan Singleton Swathi Harikumar • Thulasiram Govind Chettiyaar • Vijay Ram • Yasmin Misra
LOBBY
Samir Bhargava • Shraddha Dharia • Chennai Café • Elegant Affair
Saregama Café & Supermarket
MUSICIANS & SINGERS
Advait Kshirsagar • Betson Zachariah • Gurleen Kaur • Kartik Rajagopal
Krithika Karthik • Mahesh Ruikar • Parag Prabhune • Prathama Pathak
Prathima Bhat • Priti Phalak • Prabhu Shankar • Prakash Kagal • Ramki Ramakrishnan
Samhita Kumar • Sanjana Manikandan • Shukra Seshadri . Vijay Ram
PRODUCTION CREW
Aarthi Ramesh, Asit Kini, Arvind Betrabet, Datta Krishnappa, Ganesh Raghu, James West, Kunaal Kini, Neel Betrabet, Nikita Bhagat, Steven Merritt Ram Ramanathan, Ramesh Thiagarajan, Samir Bhargava, Sanjana Manikandan, Sundar Swaminathan, Sudhagar Ramamoorthy, Vish Kamat, Vishwajit Bhave
VOLUNTEERS
Aarthi Ramesh, Aaryaa Moharir, Akruti Pancholi, Bala Rangarajan, George Varughese, Jayashree Manikandan, Kala Ramesh, Manasi Paranjpe, Mrinmayee Jana, Nikita Bhagat, Paramesh Devineni, Priti Phalak, Raji Venkat, Rohini Dalvi, Sandhya Rao-Joshi, Simran Purohit, Sushma Ramachandran, Sushma Ramakrishna, Shankari Velayudham, Shanmugapriya, Shanti Ravi, Shanti Velagapod, Shubha Ramakrishnan Sneha Patwardhan, Surabhi Kshirsagar, Uma Pandare
SPECIAL THANKS
Akshay Joshi, Mina Kini, Nitin Futane, Nishendu Vasavada,
Shreyas Gaonkar, Sumedha Gokhale, Vandita Parikh, Vineeta Bhargav