Pulp Reviews: SUDS’ Rice
Emily Graetz reviews a heartfelt performance of unlikely allegiances, identity and immigration.
It’s been some time since I’ve had the opportunity to gather for live theatre. So, understandably, the pre-show atmosphere for SUDS’ Rice was buzzing. Friends, committed drama enthusiasts, proud parents and solo theatre goers (ok, that last one was just me) flocked to The Cellar Theatre in covid-safe numbers for the long awaited return to the art scene.
Rice follows the intertwining stories of Nisha (Shalvi Singh) who is an Executive Officer of an Australian rice company and Yvette (Jacinta Lin) who is tidying up after Nisha. At first, they see each other simply as “Indian princess” and “Chinese cleaner”. But whilst the women live seemingly separate lives, they form an unlikely allegiance as they grapple with the complexities and struggles of immigration, globalisation, identity and family.
Considering everyone’s covid-infused and first-main-show-of-the-season anticipation, Rice did not disappoint. Director Pratha Nagpal has clearly inspired a creative team of cast and crew alike, who established a punchy and powerful scene for the audience to be immersed in.
Jacinta Lin’s accomplished character work and Shalvi Singh’s convincing performance made for a dynamic display of emotions and did justice to a complex storyline. Whilst the pair started off at a slightly too-fast pace (opening night nerves be like that), they developed an easy partnership on stage and complemented one another’s energy nicely.
Set design (Madhullikaa Singh, Isla Mowbray and Tempe Walne) was subtle and well balanced. The decision to place a large desk centre stage could have easily been a hindrance but was used to demonstrate plot and character development neatly.
The second act was really where the performance peaked for me. Beautiful use of lighting (Alice Stafford and Pearl Cardis), silhouette work and stark contrasts in colour made for some important moments of reflection for the audience. I would love to have seen more of this sooner!
Rice is a brilliant return to live theatre in 2021. It is witty, dramatic and makes an important move towards telling more diverse and meaningful stories of immigration. As Nagpal states in her Director’s Note, Rice is an opportunity to ‘“realise that moving forward, it is crucial to bring a cultural shift in the stories we want to tell and the voices we want to elevate”.
Check out the event details for a limited release of tickets for newcomers to SUDS and follow their Facebook to stay up to date with their happenings.