After a chasmic lack of diverse representation that has plagued Australian theatre, we are beginning to see a relative boom in the emergence of South Asian stories. In the last few months, ‘Nayika’ and the spectacular ‘Counting and Cracking’ have hit the Belvoir St stage and now it is the turn of the Old Fitz Theatre and New Ghosts Theatre Company to bring Chenturan Aran’s ‘Cut Chilli’ to the stage.

Unlike the other two productions mentioned, South Asian identity is not necessarily at the heart of this story (although it certainly informs the production) but rather, this is a much more broadly applicable reflection on adoption and familial dynamics. The play centres around Jamie, who was abandoned as a baby in Sri Lanka, before being adopted by loving parents in Australia.

Yet after discussions with his girlfriend, the probing podcaster Zahra, he contemplates whether his adoptive identity reflects his true self and seeks to return to Sri Lanka to locate his birth mother. An extended family dining scene follows which takes up the vast majority of the play and accounts for most of the character development and expositional advancement.

What is immediately apparent about this play is the tightness of its construction. It is rare to see a play in a fledgling form (or, for that matter, even an established form) that is constructed and paced so well. While the opening of the play is perhaps a little superfluous, once the main action commences, not a single minute is wasted, which ultimately justifies the nearly 2-hour uninterrupted runtime. Every moment in the play feels as though it is teasing something new out thoughtfully, which is exactly how it should be. 

The only thing that perhaps could be integrated in a clearer fashion is the video. The use of video acts as a heavily symbolic device which ultimately results in the perfect ending (as well constructed as any that I’ve seen). However, the importance of the video should be made clearer from the outset, as it is hard to piece together at the beginning. 

The acting is also strong throughout the production, with Ariyan Sharma, Kelsey Jeanell, Susie Lindeman, Brendan Miles and Noel Hodda all doing a fine job in their exploration of their respective characters. At times, the acting lacks some depth and feels a little superficial but on the whole, the performers explore the emotion behind the tensions that the characters are all facing in the production. 

There are also some times where the construction of character could have been developed a little further. The characterisation of Zahra feels quite shallow compared to the members of the family and does not really do justice to the potential of the role. There could be more interrogation of the intentions of the members of the family in order to maximise the criticality of this production. 

Overall, this is a superb work and one of the most thoughtful theatrical productions that I have seen in a long time. This play has all the elements of a modern run-away success and with some tightening, could certainly achieve many of the same heights reached by other recent Australian plays.

Rating: ★★★★1/2

Cut Chilli plays at the Old Fitz Theatre until 27^th July. For more information, click here. 

All photo credits: Phil Erbacher