The Cultch and Diwali Fest have partnered to present the Canadian premiere of the award-winning The Elephant Wrestler for a short run, only until Saturday, November 5 at The Historic Theatre.
New Zealand’s Indian Ink Theatre Company takes the audience on a trip to the mayhem, and magic of India. Inspired by a traditional Indian fairy tale, The Elephant Wrestler follows a poor ‘chai-wallah’ (chai tea-seller) as he attempts to solve the interwoven mysteries of true love, tragedy, and joy.
The audience sits in rapt attention as Kutisar, (played by Jacob Rajan) our suspect spiritual guide – a buck-toothed chameleon, channeling seventeen characters and leaping to multiple locations, weaves a thrilling tale of romance and intrigue. Incorporating a unique brand of wisdom Kutisar is charming, downtrodden, and inspirational all at the same time.
The Elephant Wrestler adds in a bit of slight-of-hand, audience interaction and a live soundtrack provided by the unspeaking but talented vocalist and musician, Dave. While Dave is onstage throughout, Jacob Rajan’s charismatic performance draws the attention so it feels more like a one-man show.
Already an international success, The Elephant Wrestler has earned rave reviews in New Zealand, Australia, Asia, the U.S. and surely will here on its Canadian debut.
Playing at The Cultch Historic Theatre only until November 5th, tickets are limited but some are still available from thecultch.com