Rajesh and Naresh – Unity Theatre

Seventy minutes, two actors, one set. That’s all that is needed to tell this touching story of how two men, with different backgrounds, different experiences, and different personalities, make a connection that changes their lives.

The play opens with Rajesh (Brahmdeo Shannon Ramana), who works in a financial firm in London, and Naresh (Madhav Vasantha), who makes cricket bats in Mumbai, sitting on chairs on separate halves of the stage – the one in London and the other in Mumbai. Their initial actions as they prepare for the day clearly and concisely convey their personalities. Rajesh – young, good-looking, and seemingly self-confident – presents a sharp contrast to the 42-year-old Naresh, who focuses only on what he considers to be his faults.

The action continues to develop separately as we follow their individual stories. Rajesh is continually undermined at work and the implication is that his lack of promotion is due to systemic racism in the company he works for. His mother, unaware that her son is gay but sensing his unhappiness, suggests he visit family in Mumbai to find ‘a good wife’. Meanwhile, Billy, Naresh’s best friend, takes him to Mumbai’s popular gay bar and unsuccessfully tries to advise him on how to overcome his chronic shyness.

A chance meeting between the two men on the streets of Mumbai followed by another meeting in the gay bar sets them on the road to love. That journey is peopled by various other characters, all played by the two actors, which allows them to demonstrate both their acting ability and comic timing. A hall stand at the back of the stage provides all the costumes and props required as they select the clothes to denote Billy, Rajesh’s mother, or an overbearing colleague, cricketing heroes etc. Other more minor characters are conveyed simply through body language, props, and a change in tone.

Throughout the evening they spend together, they exchange stories, hopes, and dreams. Some of their exchanges seem to be aimed at informing the audience as much as the other character, but the actors’ skill minimises this element so it never comes across as too heavy-handed. Thus we find that the supposedly conservative India seems far more accepting of homosexuality than the seemingly more liberal London. On a personal level, we see how Naresh begins to relax and to gain in self-confidence while, in turn, he gives Rajesh the confidence to be true to himself and to be honest with his mother, leading to a poignant and beautifully played scene where Rajesh finally tells his mother he is gay.

The intensity of the writing is leavened by humour throughout, and the clever use of lighting and careful selection of music by Queen and by Indian musicians serve as a commentary on the action.

While working on many levels and touching on a range of themes, this play is a beautifully told and superbly acted love story and is well worth seeing. https://www.jamesirelandplaywright.com/rajesh-and-naresh

Reviewer: Johanna M Roberts

Reviewed: 6th November 2021

North West End UK Rating: ★★★★