Elephant in the Room

                                                                      Priyanka Shetty

Akuka Theatre, located in the Louis Bluver Theatre at The Drake, has extended the run of The Elephant in the Room through November 19th. Written and performed by Priyanka Shetty, this one act play, set in the dressing room of a theatre, explores the paths the playwright has traveled to reach the point of her performing in front of her parents who have traveled from India. I found The Elephant in the Room mesmerizing. Priyanka’s performance is bold as she illustrates two sides of arguments with her mother; has the door slammed in her face during auditions when she reaches America; has arguments with her “aunties”; and pleas with her brother to take her side and not side with her parents about having her freedoms. Her slight change of costume keeps the pace of the piece moving. Tales of rascism and near despair  are replaced by hope and  determination. She frequently speaks to the audience and the  audience members laugh in appreciation of her travails. Priyanka tells her truth in this, her first foray into playwrighting and does so exceedingly well.