Presented by Holden Street Theatre Co Inc, Lip Sink, Francesca Clark Productions, Richard Jordan Productions
Reviewed 14 February 2015
Karla Crome’s Mush And Me is a simple love story dealing with the far-from-simple issues of religious and cultural beliefs.
Gabby (Daniella Issacs) is Jewish and Mush (Jaz Deol), a Muslim. The two meet while working at a telemarketing company (a great, fast beginning to the play) and find that their totally different upbringings draw them somehow closer together.
The play was inspired by Isaacs’ 101 year old Great Aunty Nancy, a Jewish woman who fell in love with a Christian boy, but whose parents disallowed the romance causing her to never marry in her long lifetime.
It is also one of two recipients of the prestigious Holden Street Theatres’ Edinburgh Award 2014. No wonder: this production is flawless. Crome’s thought-provoking, well-researched and truly beautiful script is handled sensitively under Rosy Banham’s deft direction; placed on a clever, evocative set designed by Carla Goodman (well utilised boxes, perhaps representing ‘compartments’ that Man tends to neatly categorise people into); and superbly acted by Isaacs and Deol.
The two actors exude electricity and positively spark off one another, each giving totally natural and realistic performances. A few highlights of many include their tender scenes, their handling of the individual relevant religious ceremonies, and Isaacs marvellously controlled drunk. Every emotion is handled expertly by these two excellent performers. Scene changes are made interesting and swift by having both actors perform them with the utmost efficiency.
There is truth in every aspect of this five star production, and the two religions are treated with equal amounts of respect.
Mush And Me is not to be missed, and if it’s not in one’s 2015 Fringe schedule of plays to see, it should be.
If this production does not go back to England with at least one Fringe award, then there is no God.
Reviewed by Brian Godfrey
Twitter: @briangods
Rating out of 5: 5
Venue: Holden Street Theatres – The Arch 34 Holden Street, Hindmarsh
Season: 10 February – 15 March 2015
Duration: 60 mins
Tickets: $15 – $26
Bookings: Book through FringeTix online or at a FringeTix box office (booking fees apply)
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