BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR, THE GODS ARE LISTENING

A warrior princess and a warrior hero in love. It sounds simple enough, but things are more complicated in Chitra, Rabindranath Tagore’s one-act play based on a story from the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata.

Chitra, a warrior princess raised as a boy, begs the gods for perfect beauty so she can win the affections of Arjuna in an enchanting poem of false appearance and true love.

Gabriella Sundar Singh is Chitra. She has previously been seen in The Importance of Being Earnest. Selected credits for the Shaw Festival include: Charley’s Aunt, Shawground (2021), Chitra (2021), Fairground (2021), The Russian Play, Brigadoon, O’Flaherty V.C.; choreographer for Shawground, Fairground; fight captain for Shawground, Brigadoon; director for Sisterhood (Secret Theatre, 2018). Elsewhere: Appeared as Fatima in A Jam Kind of Day, B in Fairchild; Millie in Sisters; MandLbrot in Orestes, Charlotte/Joan/Nurse in 7 Stories; associate director to Judith Thompson, music dramaturg/supervisor for Children Speak; fight choreographer for Tough! Film/television: One Small Visit, Coffee Partners Media; Kim’s Convenience, Frankie Drake Mysteries, Designated Survivor, Taken, Brothers in the Kitchen.

Sanjay Talwar plays Madana. The director for Too True To Be Good also appears in the 8th season of The Doctor’s Dilemma. Selected credits for the Shaw Festival include: lead/curator for Shawground (2021), Fairground (2021); A Christmas Carol (2018-19), Man and Superman, Victory, Wilde Tales, Arcadia, Peace in Our Time and Helen’s Necklace. Elsewhere: A Christmas Carol, Blue Ridge Rep; Oslo, Theatre 180/Mirvish; The Men in White, Arts Club; As You Like It, Hamlet, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Peter Pan, Macbeth. Stratford: The Road to Paradise, Human Cargo; Around the World in 80 Days, ATP; The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Measure for Measure, Titus Andronicus, director for The Merchant of Venice, five seasons as artistic director, Shakespeare in the Rough; The Winter’s Tale, Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night, Dream in High Park; Helen’s Necklace (Jessie award), Tarragon, Pi Theatre. Film/television: Doormouse, Orphan Black, Puck Hogs, The Border, Flashpoint, Supernatural, Murder Unveiled/A Love Story.

Andrew Lawrie plays Arjuna.

Save on summer performances at the Shaw: Great savings on a variety of shows and dates!

It’s the perfect time to visit Niagara-on-the-Lake, stroll the streets, enjoy some gelato and take in a joyful musical, a spine-tinging mystery or a hilarious comedy. Or discover something a little different like Shaw’s Too True to Be Good, Everybody! $20 and Chitra (Lunchtime One-Act).

Until October 8: Chitra by Rabindranath Tagore at the Royal George Theatre.

Directed and choreographed by Kimberley Rampersad. Original music and sound designed by Ryan deSouza and Darryn deSouza.

DESI DIARY

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR, THE GODS ARE LISTENING