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WHEN JANUARY FEELS LIKE SUMMER

The statue of Ganesha enshrined on the stage at Mosaic’s latest production is no ordinary prop. The Hindu deity is the remover of obstacles.  

And do the five characters in When January Feels Like Summer have obstacles!

Nirmala (Lynette Rathnam) is a walking widow of an arranged and unconsummated marriage in India that has brought her to New York City.  She runs a grocery while her husband who was shot three years ago is on life support.

Ishan/Indira (Shravan Amin) is her brother who wants her to pull the plug on her brain dead husband to use  the insurance money to complete gender reassignment surgery.  

Enter Joe (Jason B. Mcintosh), a sanitation worker, to clear out the porno trash that Nirmala’s husband has left— just as his trashy spouse has left him. 

Devaun (Jeremy Keith Hunter) and Jeron (Vaughan Ryan Midder) are best friends.  Jeron has the brains but Devaun has the know how with women.  How they get involved with the other characters might seem improbable coincidence  but is never less than utterly delightful. 

There is constant referencing to climate changes but there is more than the weather that is changing rapidly.

As each amiable character transforms,  the suspense builds— how can it be that all will not converge in another “ripped from the headlines” tragedy that springs from such racial, ethnic or sexual divisiveness?

Ganesha’s starring role emerges at the end of the play. The removal of obstacles requires a measure of awareness that what one strives for as one’s personal destiny is not impossible.  (The elephant -headed god is also noted for adding a bit of comic unexpected twists to get there.)

Ganesha is also most fitting to be on stage at Mosaic in the show that ends its Inaugural season 2015/16— one overwhelmingly successful at overcome obstacles!

WANT TO GO?
MOSAIC THEATER COMPANY OF DC 
AT THE ATLAS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 
UNTIL JUNE 12, 2016.


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