It is frustrating that Satinder Kaur Chohan’s script does not effectively tease out the themes it sets up. Part of the problem is the confused tone of the play. The tone turns darker in the second half and the play builds in intensity. But it veers towards melodrama, with predictable plot-points.
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Ghai’s production, which is designed by Rosa Maggiora, tries, not always successfully, to strike a good balance between comedy and tragedy, although it does honour the material, especially its more difficult moments. Lotus Beauty has many enjoyable moments, but could have been improved by sharper plotting.
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A flipside of the play's ambitious storytelling is that its overall direction of travel isn't always very clear. Lotus Beauty is a poignant look at the human need to fit in – set against the backdrop of racism, sexism, and violence.
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The production is comical but clunky at times. Though an uneven production, it is a harrowingly truthful portrayal of the hardship suffered by South-Asian women, which demands attention. It would also be wise to read the trigger warnings.
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