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Culture Stage

Fringe Review: Rukmini’s Gold

RUKMINI’S GOLD

Factory Mainspace

See show info here

Rating: NNN


Rukmini (Dia Frid), an elderly woman in India nearing the end of her life, reflects on multiple generations of her family as they scatter around the world.

The play sprawls non-linearly through time from 1886 to 2008, with each scene placed in a different era and geographical location. Since the set never changes and some of the accents are shaky, the printed programme becomes invaluable for figuring out locations. Playwright Radha S. Menon imbues the script with intriguing historical facts and creates a strong sense of cultural and familial tradition.

Many actors in the seven-person cast take on multiple characters. Ellora Patnaik stands out playing two sisters in back-to-scenes especially when she delivers an emotionally charged monologue. The spare set – just a train station bench located at centre stage – and dialogue-heavy script seem to inhibit director Wes Berger, but the gold jewelry heirlooms that appear every scene enrich the story by connecting the generations.

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