3 STARS, May 30 – June 3. A brave foray into the clandestine world of British Asian homosexuality that unearths sensitive issues, whilst maintaining a light-hearted approach and tinge of Bollywood sparkle, says Jackie Bryans
Fisher Studios
I have long intended to see a Rifco production and was therefore delighted to attend last night’s performance of Miss Meena and the Masala Queens at the Theatre Royal, Windsor. Rifco was established to support the careers of British Asians and South Asians in the theatre industry and I am pleased that the Theatre Royal in Windsor has hosted a number of their productions in recent years, which in turn is rewarded by attracting new audiences from the British Asian community.
Pravesh Kumar the show’s Director confessed that in developing Miss Meena and the Masala Queens they had recognised that they were embarking into an area that is still relatively taboo within their community, with one community member advising ‘we are talking about things that we should not talk about’. However, in a world that currently seems to sadly be increasingly more prejudiced and intolerant, I applaud Rifco’s quest to help breakdown some of these barriers.
Miss Meena, an aging drag queen still mourning the death of her partner, has allowed her Birmingham nightclub to become run down and unprofitable. Long alienated from her family who disowned her for being gay, her brother visits to advise her that their father is dying. Despite this news Meena is unable to find the courage to return home until after her father’s death, by which time her guilt for not being the type of son he had so wanted leads Meena to agree to marry and have a traditional life.
Fisher Studios
Behind the scenes Munni, another drag queen at the club, is conspiring with her lover (a town Councillor and the club’s property owner) to take over the club herself, making it more of a popular attraction for the wider community. Cousins Preetho and Pinky provide the humour as they aspire to become drag queens and we chart their eventual metamorphous as the ‘Masala Queens’.
Added to this we see young Shaan, who is forced to leave home at 19 when his father returns home to find his son dressed in women’s clothing. Shaan finds sanctuary at Miss Meena’s club, as doubtless many have done before him.
This production has a Bollywood flavour, therefore naturally there is a happy ending. Overall whilst the themes that are touched upon are important, in terms of actual production the evening lacked polish and sophistication. The production is aimed at the British Asian community and therefore some of the jokes went over my head, but were well received by the rest of the audience who certainly appeared to have enjoyed the evening immensely. In terms of drag queen performances, this lacked the finesse of shows like Priscilla or Kinky Boots and I was disappointed that the finale – which featured a rendition of La Cage aux Folles’ marvellous I am what I am – didn’t prove to be as magical or rousing as it could have been.
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