Shashi Rkha Yammada, left, and Mala Bhattacharya in “Orange” at Stage Door Theatre. (All photos by Breath Images LLC)
Growth and choice are at the center of Aditi Brennan Kapil’s Orange, a coming-of-age play running August 9 through August 24 at Stage Door Theatre. The production, which features superb performances and breathtaking visuals, is quiet and understated. However, for those who resonate with its portrayal of disconnection, overprotection and isolation, it is a deeply evocative piece.
The story follows Leela, a 17-year-old autistic girl who travels with her mother from India to Orange County, California, to attend a wedding. Upon their arrival, we learn Leela’s mother’s real motivation is to get her distant, workaholic husband to move back home, as she is lonely and struggling after the death of Leela’s grandfather. Leela, meanwhile, dreams of going on an adventure like the ones her grandfather used to tell her about.
This is all background information; the real plot sees Leela “abducted” by her free-spirited cousin, Priti, for a night on the town before Priti leaves Orange County for college. The play follows Priti and her boyfriend dragging Leela on a number of juvenile escapades — digging up a childhood time capsule, climbing a billboard — while giving us glimpses into how Leela sees the world.
Director Amee Vyas sets a slow pace both to the show’s benefit and detriment. The line deliveries are unhurried, and the actors take time in each moment. While this is great for establishing a sense of intimacy, it also feels, at times, like the play is dragging or running out of wind. Certain beats are more drawn out than they need to be, and the audience’s continued enjoyment depends on the likability of the characters. The finale is satisfying thanks to the actors.
As an autistic character, Leela’s portrayal is realistic for the most part, though Kapil writes a lot of her characterization close to the chest for the first half. A trained eye might first worry that Leela will lack agency in the story, all too common in media representations of autism, or that she is being used as a funhouse mirror to reflect the absurdity of people around her. It doesn’t help that her blunt observations and deadpan delivery are played for comedy throughout, which, while funny, risk creating a stagnant character.
Fortunately, we get a much deeper look at Leela’s fears and anxieties in the second half. We realize that her desire for adventure is really a desire for agency: to be able to make choices for herself. It becomes her coming-of-age story as well as Priti’s, and both struggle to accept the realities of entering adulthood.
Shashi Rekha Yammada is skilled in the role, giving specificity to Leela’s idiosyncratic line deliveries. Because Leela speaks with a mostly flat affect, Yammada runs the risk of coming off as one-note, but she manages to find subtle nuance in the character’s moods.
The standout performance, however, belongs to Mala Bhattacharya, who pulls double duty as Leela’s mom and cousin Priti. She presents a master class in versatility — her Priti exudes childlike tempestuousness wrapped in a high-pitched California accent, and, as Leela’s mother, she is grounded in warmth and emotional intelligence.
Bhattacharya builds chemistry with Yammada in both of her roles, as Leela’s relationships with Priti and her mother form the emotional core of the show. Her mother represents her home base, while Priti represents her opportunity for growth.
Alishah Bhamani performs well in his dual roles as Leela’s father and Priti’s on-again-off-again boyfriend Gar. He is perhaps not as chameleonic as Bhattacharya, but his father figure is appropriately detestable, while Gar provides endearing comedic relief.
The design of the show invites introspection. Throughout Orange, Leela carries around a notebook to draw things around her, and these drawings are brought to luscious life by Victoria Nation’s projection design. Scenic designer Derrick Vanmeter creates an abstract space to evoke multiple settings, and the visual tone of the production is augmented by David Reingold’s lighting. Costume designer Jessica Fern expertly uses the attire to differentiate between the characters.
Multiple themes are at play here about cultural impact and the value of family, but the overriding theme is agency — not just Leela’s as an autistic person but young adults in their quest for freedom. While Orange’s fruitfulness is understated, a thoughtful, layered performance awaits.
Where & When
Orange is at Stage Door Theatre August 9 through August 24. Tickets start at $28.
5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road.
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Luke Evans is an Atlanta-based writer, critic and dramaturg. He covers theater for ArtsATL and Broadway World Atlanta and has worked with theaters such as the Alliance, Actor’s Express, Out Front Theatre and Woodstock Arts. He’s a graduate of Oglethorpe University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree, and the University of Houston, where he earned his master’s.
