For the Love of Paper

The first thing of note about this world premiere of Almitra Mavalvala’s 3-hander is the excellent setting, designed by Paris Bell and contributed to by many. On the small traverse Broadway stage it displays many, many aspects of the Sydney flat shared by Kaveh, a Muslim doctor from Afganistan, and Amaliah, a Christian singer from Pakistan.

There are three chairs round a circular table, four hanging lights, a long lounge in front of a huge blow-up of a visa application, a working painter’s easel, an electric piano ready for Amaliah’s song, and a kitchen fitted with just about everything – everything including the kitchen sink.

It soon becomes clear that all is not well. Repeated incoming overseas telephone calls from relatives reveal that Amaliah’s scheduled time in Australia is rapidly coming to an end. She faces deportation. While Kaveh is being plagued by his mother about getting married, which is also a problem, for he is gay.

But he soon has a brilliant solution for both of them: they should get married! Get all the official papers and fill them in and no one will ever know. We’ll be saved! This brilliant idea sets Amaliah’s mind racing: OK, but what if the officials find out the truth? What then? I could be sent to prison!

Almitra Mavalvala, author of this heart-felt piece, plays Amaliah, her heroine, and she does it well. Moving around the crowded stage with complete confidence, she brings the drama to life.

As Kaveh, the gay doctor/painter, Antony Makhlouf cuts a poignant lonely figure, beaten down by the insistent voice of his mother, trying to find himself via his real love, his paintings.

Playing everyone else, from a suspicious Immigration Lawyer to Amaliah’s dud date, is Joseph Raboy, who brings a matching commitment to the hard-working team.

Director Kersherka Sivakumaran gives dedication to the task of bringing this drama to life. I just wonder if the stage is not too packed, that our hero and heroine are not given a little more space to breathe.

Frank Hatherley

Images: LSH Media.