By Jagdeesh Mann,
Special to The Post

Mrs. Singh and Me is a play that explores South Asian marriage traditions, generational differences, and the mysterious elixir also known as orange pekoe tea.
Can all truly be forgiven and forgotten over a strongly brewed cup of chai (not to mention a plate of cookies)?
This hour long production is the work of Munish Sharma, a Regina, Saskatchewan ex-pat who now calls Vancouver home. 

“This has been a challenge for me,” said Sharma, a veteran stage actor with many credits to his name (I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Chicken, Iceland), but who is a neophyte when it comes to writing screenplays. 

“I wanted to write strong South Asian characters that represent cultural perspectives and expose not only South Asian themes, but also Canadian themes as well." he explained.
The play has performed to rave reviews and large audiences at this year's Fringe Festival, earning it the 'Pick of The Fringe' honour - a recognition rarely, if ever, given to a first-time writer.

The story begins in a darkened theatre as we hear Raj panting and fumbling his way into an undisclosed location. He turns on the lights and we see he is carrying an older woman - Mrs. Singh, the play's female lead and matriarch figure, played by Nimet Kanji (The Violet Hour, Continuum).

She is bound and gagged.

From there the story unfolds as to why this heart-strong, and possibly head-foolish, young man would resort to what turns out to be kidnapping a very outraged Mrs. Singh (imagine a wasp trapped in a glass jar and you will understand her fury).

Raj wants to release her, and in the process explain why she is bound and tied, but naturally he is gun-shy about being stung. So ensues the dialogue, or should we say negotiations, often to great hilarity and at other times to moments of emotional tenderness - feigned, imagined and even at times real. 
The central theme the play explores is who can love whom and under what circumstances. The plot ascends to its climax over the universal and inexhaustible trope of hopelessly romantic youth tripping and falling face-first into the trenches dug by an older generation that claims to know where life's landmines are buried.

Raj, not one to be so easily deterred, takes matters into his own hands and so he explains to Mrs. Singh why he has 'borrowed' her company for a short though indeterminate amount of time. The conversation that follows has taken place in countless South Asian households, where generations clash over what is right and wrong in matters of the heart.

So does Raj win over Mrs. Singh in end?
Or does Tradition-with-a-capital-T stand staunch and firm, epaulets brushed and stout, in the face of what it labels youthful whimsy. Raj for one knows what his heart wants though he and his friend Cupid have both been warned to steer clear.
And in the meantime, to Raj's growing dismay, it seems Mrs. Singh has developed a shield to the kryptonic melting powers of chai...

To see how the showdown ends, see the encore presentation of Mrs Singh and Me this Sunday, September 27 at 5PM at the Revue Stage on Granville Island. Tickets are $25 and available online at www.southasianarts.ca.
The play will also be showing in Surrey from Friday, October 2nd to Sunday, October 4 at the Newton Cultural Centre (13530 72 Avenue).
Tickets available at mrssingh.eventbrite.ca or in person at Kamal’s Video Palace, located at 8268 120 Street in Surrey. Prices are $20 (plus applicable fees and service charges).