Behind the Beautiful
Forevers is a play directed by Rufus Norris and based on a non-fiction book
by Katherine Boo who went to Annawadi in Mumbai to report on the poverty in a
small community. The play centres around many families and how their lives
intersect when faced with immense religious prejudice corruption as well as
petty problems that every society experiences. Abdul Husain - sensitively
portrayed by Shane Zaza – is a rubbish sorter at the top of his trade and
providing for a wealthy family who also happens to be one of the only Muslim
families in the neighbourhood. His mother Zehrunisa (Meera Syal) is a foul mouthed
and proud woman who constantly picks fights and when this catches up to her, a
spiral of deceit and corruption takes its toll on the whole community.
The Olivier at the
National Theatre is known to be a grand space and the set conveyed the vastness
of the slums in Annawadi perfectly. From the rubbish falling from the ceiling
downstage to the billboards advertising luxuries in the background, the divide
between classes was painfully obvious to the audience. The music was
particularly poignant as the blaring, upbeat songs contrasted with the downbeat
feeling of the community and represented what people relate with Mumbai rather
than the reality; something that Boo commented on herself. The revolving stage
cleverly separated the domestic setting with the corporate showing the many
different types of corruption present and that there are two sides to every
story.
This production highlights the extreme conflict which occurs
when everyone is just trying to get by. It was cleverly written and wonderfully
acted by the first entire British Asian cast at the National. Other standout
performances include Thusitha Jayasundera as the conniving Fatima and Anjana
Vasan as Manju, an educated girl who is the voice of morality along with Abdul.
For a gripping and sobering story,
Behind the Beautiful Forevers will be broadcast as part of the NT Live cinema
series in March.
5*
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