Jake Mace
Content Warning: References to child abuse.
Two childhood lesbian lovers reunite at an Indian wedding – their paths having diverted entirely. One now married with a child, the other having fled her hometown to protect her identity. The Chai Queens offers a non-linear, tragically poised look at the constraints of family, culture, and survival on Queer relationships, and most importantly, young Queer minds. This is a vivid, sensuous portrait of Queer life for women in India, with enrapturing, deeply believable performances from Taranjit Kaur as Babli and Archana Patel as Tejal.
Ramanjit Kaur directs this piece, which hovers tentatively on the sensations, memories, and moments of intimacy across the women’s lives. We open with Babli realising her childhood dream of opening a Sari shop, but we soon learn that other parts of Babli’s life have suffered to achieve her dream career. As the duo eventually bump into each other, emotions ring heavy in their faces, and we untangle their lost love through a series of objects, sensory-heavy nostalgic recounting of the time they spent together, and difficult conversations about the women they have become.
The non-linear nature of this piece is an immense strength. Had it been played as a straight narrative, we might have lost that wealth of connection between audience and actor that comes with nostalgia, and that shines through in the tangible, emotive script. Much work from many writers has gone into the script, and this refining process has paid off greatly.
Highlights include a full-blown Indian wedding for Babli and Tejal’s childhood dolls. We are taken through the rituals but also invited into the traditions – with sweets shared among the audience, the aroma of chai floating out across the intimate venue, and Babli and Tejal our guides to the whole experience. All the while this is dripping in subtext – this is the wedding these women want to share together but may never get the chance to do so. It’s a heart-aching, rich concept that bares through, and I saw many in my audience with teary eyes throughout different parts of the piece.
A difficult scene where the pair are caught together as teenagers is done sensitively, and is genuinely shocking. Both actors are able to keep this scene from coming across po-faced, rather allowing it to be disarmingly believable, which is a monumental achievement. These moments of intensity are matched with moments of inevitable quiet, where neither women are quite sure what to say to one another to make everything ‘okay’. But neither Taranjit nor Archana drop their guard for a second – these characters are endlessly developed, lived-in, and offer up a deep emotional connection to their audiences.
It’s hard to sum up in words the true emotive gloss and grit that Taranjit and Archana provide these characters as their actors. I was deeply moved by their performances, and fell completely into their stories as they sought to fully show and not tell who they were. Babli, the careful but playful one, Tejal the teasing and mischievous rebel, both crushed by the weight of the social systems that enclose them into lives they’re not quite sure how to lead.
These beautiful and gut-wrenching story moments are matched by a sound design that traverses the full musical landscape of India, from Bollywood to more traditional, quiet tunes that hum with a cultural fabric that not only situates us in small-town India, but offers an additional sensory lens of nostalgia that compliments the piece greatly.
Safe to say I utterly adored getting the chance to be a part of this show, and Tejal & Babli really do extend their arms out throughout to say “this is us, and this is what we have to go through.” We’re not asked to question their experiences, but to wonder how much of yourself you’re expected to give away to the people around you.
Recommended Drink: It’s always lovely to have a show that puts their suggested drink pairing in the title – pair this with a warm Masala Chai. Spice and comfort combine in one cup.
You can catch The Chai Queens – A Tale of Love & Longing as part of Prague Fringe until Saturday 31st May at various times (45mins) at Museum of Alchemists – Divadlo. Tickets are available through the Prague Fringe Online Box Office.
Elisabeth Flett
Freddie Haberfellner
