Hilarity Abounds in Houston Play Everyone Loves a Good Tsunami
By Kalyani Giri
Last Updated: April 11 2009

HOUSTON: Playwright Sujit Saraf is an astute observer of humankind and their foibles and machinations. His insights, unerringly translated into the satirical comedy. Everyone Loves Good Tsunami, and presented by the Shunya Theatre, debuted at the Barnevelder Movement Arts in downtown Houston Friday night. Directed by Yaksha Bhatt and Asif Sayani, the production adroitly melded a good script with a talented cast of actors.

Set in California, the play describes the power struggles and manipulations that run rampant within non-profit community organizations. Protagonist Dr. Sunil Ahuja (played by gifted actor Sriram Vengalathur) is a gastroenterologist and the president of one such organization. He enjoys, revels, in his position of power.

When he suddenly gets wind of his second- in-command Dr. Naresh Panjwani (Aditya Nag) branching off to form a rival committee that threatens to undermine his status, Ahuja calls for a brainstorming session with trusted advisors. The play eloquently illustrates the intent behind the actions of those thirsty for power, as they haphazardly disregard sensibilities to advance their personal agendas and to gain public recognition.

The script offers an inside view of community politics, where even the devastatingly tragic tsunami of 2004 is a fortuitous circumstance to get a news headline and give a television interview amidst organizational mayhem. As Dr. Ahuja’s right hand man Lokesh Jindal (Prateek Karkal) shines, eager to help trump the rival group through his bumbling efforts. Suffering the imagined loss of her South Indian neighbors in the tsunami (never mind that when she last saw them 40 years ago, they were safe and sound in New Delhi), was Mrs. Sushma Kataria (Alpa Shah). Shah, imbued with a natural-born talent, previously received rave reviews for her role in the Friends of Houston presentation, Jolie…Oh… Jolly.

Preity Bhagia as Mrs. Indu Ahuja, the wife of Dr. Ahuja, excels in her role as the deferential, hapless, oft- dismissed hoverer, whose seemingly- only prowess lies in chai-making; she is the perfect foil to the arrogant, egotistical husband. Aarthi Ahuja (Shweta Arora) sparkled as the flighty daughter of the Ahujas. Sundy Srinivasan does well as the suitably disconcerted reporter sent to write the story. Also in this clever cast was Shyam Anandampillai as the Pandit. Hilarity abounds in Everyone Loves a Good Tsunami.

For show dates and timings, or to learn more about Shunya Theatre, visit www.ShunyaTheatre.org