Baba, Jee (Father, Yes)

What I liked

I mostly enjoyed the writing. It’s clear, fun, funny, and continues moving forward with unexpected turns.

Also, I enjoyed the actors playing Maria and Baba. Their first moments in the play weren’t very believable. It lacked tension and felt clunky rather than filled with subtext.

That said, the initial moments pass and their relationship becomes clear and believable. They have truly heartfelt scenes together. The actors played nicely, and we root for them by the end.

Also, I fell in love with the character’s Dave and Baba in their late night chat. Well written, well staged, and well played by the actors!

What I didn't like

The staging forces you to suspend your disbelief in somewhat confounding ways. There are plenty of moments when you can’t see the actor’s faces in key moments. They hide themselves behind a fridge multiple times in pursuit of something relevant to the plot (no spoilers!) but it doesn’t really seem necessary to have them tucked upstage when they’re doing something active.

Also, if we’re to believe the character Dave is at least an employed-if-not-expert cook (though the play leads us to believe later on he does have some talent), he’s gotta do more than just stir the soup :).

My overall impression

The writing was solid. The play gives us plenty of moments to love each character even if you hate them minutes before. While the stage space and restrictions of fitting into a Fringe program (i.e. quick set-ups/breakdowns) make creating a realistic environment challenging, the production does ultimately bring the world to life and invites you into the character’s lives.