THE BOOKSHOP VERSO EDITIONS/NLB gig is the odd smashed betting shop window It strikes me now of course, that the Gang of our spectacle was alway hat of the heavy metal monolith. That even when the really good material childhood and adulthood It's also the borderline bet ween Asian Southall and the alien, white-dominated world outside. And it's the borderline that she has to cross daily between two cultures one traditional Asian and the other, aggressively modern Western.
author write aboul Southall from the stand point of the community, rather than from that of the dominant ethnic group, the PunJabIs His characters include woman whose desire in life is to return to (Amina's mother); a student belleves that the way for educational system; two political activists and white Liberal radio reporter, Susan.
Amina's father is arranging a marriage for her.
The play is not Agitprop - the characters and the issues are complex. There aren't Many easy answers and nobody is complerely right CYCI with his traditionalist outlook and his obstinate in the justice and fairness isn't altogether wrong about everything.
Only student, Haroun, stands completecondemned. -nOr the play ends with the historic National Front meeting in Southall and ahead lie the horrific DON CE violence and the vicious attempts to Although uncertain as to the right tactics, the You they Asians understand that and the community as a whole must stick But Haroon will not stay and help defend Southall.
He is leaving for University where he will become a lawyer - not to serve his community but in OTUCTIO blend into the white man's world.
young vigilantes of Southall AN to play most of the Asian parts worked well on the whole, mainly because the accents were convincing. But it was distracting to Socialist Challenge have Amina's father and one of the activists played by a blonde man.
More serious Is thi criticism that Amina's ag gressive sexuality the limits of credibility The author is attempting to challenge the stereotype of the passive Asian but, while extremely amusing, it does not completely come off These grumbles aside the play is well worth seecellent the dialogue is - it sounds like people talking. And funny.
Borderline's first few productions at community London have End told be s End Royal LOWE • due to end on 2 November. It will be bac there for two later dates and 7 December On Mondays, all seats are f2.
Outside London it can be seen on the following dates:
On 30 November, the Central Community Theatre Scunthorpe: from 2 to sity; December Bosworth College and the Moa Community December, Aston Centre for the Arts and Birmingham Univeristy. 26 November 1981
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ward for Asians is to move upwards through the white
of democracy,
JOINT STOCK THEATRE GROUP & THE ROYAL COURT THEATRI The use of white actors