FringeNYC 2013: They Call Me Q!
Proclaimed A Theatrical Force by Orlando Weekly for her uncanny embodiment of 13 characters.
Official production websiteShow details/ticketing at FringeNYC
Review by Di Jayawickrema · August 10, 2013
A solo show is always tough to pull off. A solo show that traces the evolution of a multicultural identity from birth to adulthood? That’s a gargantuan task. And yet, it’s the one Qurrat Ann Kadwani has boldly set herself in the first play she has written, and it’s a testament to her poise and charisma as an actress that she pulls it off competently. In They Call Me Q!, Kadwani charts the rocky path to self-discovery as a culturally-confused Indian girl raised in the Bronx. It’s a skillful though somewhat cursory ride.
Kadwani plays 13 characters, including herself, transitioning between her traditional Indian mother to tough-talking Latina friends with aplomb. As a New York-raised South Asian, I can attest to the authenticity of her impeccable accents and the simultaneous comfort and claustrophobia she experiences growing up in a culture “where your business is everybody’s business.” However, Kadwani has so much emotional ground to cover that her narrative often seems rushed and her characters don’t often graduate from the one-dimensional. While currently a nimble, polished production, what They Call Me Q! could really use is some breathing room. The ideas and the actress deserve it.
While Kadwani vividly impersonates a host of colorful characters, she rarely conveys a sense of their inner lives. Her characters play their parts--a bully punches her, her father threatens to send her to India--and then they exit the stage, leaving behind little trace of their presence. While the blueprints for the characters are interesting, I have a hard time recalling more than a few of them now. Similarly, she moves through her childhood to college to India and back at such a rapid pace, the anecdotes she tells don’t really have time to sink in. Still, despite the play’s flaws, the lifelong process of shedding countries, shedding skins is one any third culture kid will recognize as something like their own.
Preview: Interviews with Artists from They Call Me Q!
We're asking artists from each show to answer questions about themselves and their work to help our readers get a detailed advance picture of the festival:
Celebrating Our Diversity · Qurrat Ann Kadwani (Writer)
- How important is diversity to you in the theater you see/make?
Diversity is everything to me! I have always produced work that is multicultural, that shatters stereotypes and pushes audiences to think about things differently. In "They Call Me Q!" there are certain characters who make you re-define "independence," "freedom" and "repression," "identity." We only define terms based on our societal context and that might not be the exact truth. - Who are some current indie theater writers/directors/creators whose work really excites you now?
John Leguizamo, Sarah Jones, Bruce Norris are theatre writers whose work I love. Ghetto Klown, Surface Transit, Clybourne Park are all plays that live in my mind. They are urban, so very real, honest, and they touch the souls of audiences. I love plays that make you think long after you've left the theatre - and these writers are at the top of the game! They are my inspiration - the reason why I wrote "They Call Me Q!" - Why is it important to encourage new writers to create theater?
New writers are the heartbeat of the theatrical scene and they are the true motivators of social change. I truly believe that theatre can change they way people think about social issues. "They Call Me Q!" is my first play and I'm so pleased to be getting all the amazing reviews. It just goes to show you that if you write what you care about, the audience will feel it! - Which famous person would you most like to get a fan letter from: Denzel Washington, Maggie Smith, Ang Lee, Suzan-Lori Parks?
Suzan Lori-Parks for sure! She is so insightful and really makes her characters come alive! Her political commentary that is at the heart of her plays is amazing to me and what I strive to achieve with "They Call Me Q!" I think she would enjoy my play and find the nuances in character and thematic material quite intriguing. I think she would find that I push the envelope and invite audiences into a world that they might not be a part of already. - Is it ok for writers to write about people s/he’s never met/known, or should writers stick to “write what you know”?
Yes, I think it's fine for a writer to research, use their imagination and create characters. In "They Call Me Q!" most of my characters are based on real people but I've created characters around what someone said to me, or an action towards me, or they way someone made me feel. There is at least one character that is completely fictional but she came to life in my mind - and she serves a very important function in the play - the return to innocence.
All About My Show · Qurrat Ann Kadwani (Actor)
- Complete this sentence: My show is the only one in FringeNYC that...?
has an Indian actress from The Bronx! I surprise my audiences by going beyond the typical immigrant story. I came to America when I was so young, but I still had traditional values instilled in me. At the same time, I had to deal with being different around my friends. How do you figure out who you are when you have so many influences around you? - Tell us about the character or characters that you portray in this show.
They Call Me Q! is an autobiographical story about growing up in an urban environment with different pressures from family, friends, and the messages from our environment. I play 13 characters that range from Indian, Latina, Black, White, young, old, male, female. I've written a verity of perspectives to shatter stereotypes and discuss how our identity is formed. - What moment or section in this show do you really love to perform? Without giving away surprises, what happens in that moment and why do you love it?
Out of the 13 characters I play, I love the moment when the Latina emerges. She is such a surprise to the audience, always gets huge laughs, and she's just a kid, so you can't help but love her. When I switch to a different character, the moment explodes into hysteria! - Which school or system of acting has been most useful to you in your career, and why (examples: The Method, Uta Hagen, Viewpoints, etc.)?
I've been trained with The Method - finding the truth in each moment, using your own experiences to flesh out a character. I'm in the zone in this play - I truly become the characters and my training has been instrumental in that. - What's your favorite pastime when you’re not working on a play?
Watching a movie at home while eating chicken wings! In the summer, I love to go kayaking, hanging out at the beach, and I love spending time with my friends!
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