Best friends Santi and Naz live in pre-partition India. One of them is Sikh, one is Muslim, and they both give each other Diwali gifts. In their little world, they see only the beauty of other people, not their differences. A beauty destined to be eroded by the twin hazards of tradition and progression.
Vital and utterly charming
There is a real artistry in Guleraana Mir's script which is constructed with poetry and authenticity. The shadow of British rule is far away, and neither is the question of how freeing liberty may actually prove to be as the country is carved up and old affinities fractured. Introducing us to major players such as Gandhi and Mountbatten through the eyes of children invites a different sort of connection with the law makers: they may have the power, but to millions of people, they are little more than a funny pair of glasses or a clipped accent who have no idea about the lives of those they are representing.
The piece is a something of a slow burn, but this only adds to our involvement in the story. We really care about happens to the girls and their families, and whether the cruelty of division will allow them to live their own lives… or those dictated by familial pressure and legislative fact. So, although the historical context is an integral piece of the story in its own right; the juxtaposition of personal and political is something we can all engage with.
Rose-Marie Christian and Karendip Phull (known as @TheThelmas) have a wonderful onstage chemistry which allows them to portray Santi and Naz with sincerity and sensitivity at a range of ages. Their performances of these two contrasting personalities are vital and utterly charming, leading us through their awakening with a softness and immediacy which is entirely unforced and makes us want to wrap them both in a big hug.
