REVIEW: Namaste Man
Intiman’s new play Namaste Man or Here & There & Back Again.
The newest play at the Intiman Theatre, Namaste Man, is written and performed by Andrew Weems. This world-premiere production is directed by Artistic Director Bartlett Sher.
This one character production was very lively. The show is about Mr. Weems childhood of growing up in some pretty exotic places based upon his father working with the State department. From Zambia to Nepal with stops in the US every now and then. Mr. Weems takes you on a trip from memory so vivid that you can almost see the events as they unfold. You have to pay attention, because you are still thinking about Kathmandu and he’s moved on back to his getting lost trying to find his apartment in New York City.
Namaste, in India and Nepal, means both hello and goodbye.
Mr. Weems use the stage in an interesting way, he keeps you attune to his every movement on the stage, he’s fast From voicing interactions between his mother & father, very funny to his singing a, small wonderful rendition of Billie Holiday singing the song “Strange Fruit” on the record player. It’s a funny production overall, the quote about “drinking Tibetan beer so strong that it knocks you down and makes you change your religion” was comical delivered by the actor.
His looking back on his early life does not shy away from some harsh reality. Such as living down the road from the local leprosy colony at Woomera Ghar or swimming in the Baghmati (Holy) River and being bummed into dead body floating by. It is a bitter sweet journey, hello and goodbye.
Namaste Man, May 30 – June 22, is Written and Performed by Andrew Weems. Directed by Bartlett Sher – 2008 Tony Nominee for Best Direction of a Musical. Tickets for Namaste Man range in price from $10 to $48. Patrons aged 25 and under can purchase tickets to any performance for $10, pending availability. A limited number of $20 rush tickets may be available for purchase 15 minutes before curtain time, pending availability. Tickets are available from www.intiman.org.
‘Round Six Happy Hour is Friday, June 20 at 6 pm: complimentary pre-show snacks, drinks and live music.
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