Toronto theater reviews
Reports on New Broadway plays. a theatre guide in toronto ontario canada

-- a spectacular story of love and wonder through 14 remarkable pieces of songs and dances.   The musical adopts the Sanskrit theatrical and narrative tradition, in which the Sutradhar, or narrator, guides the audiences through the homecoming tale of Siddharth.  An India born boy raised in the United States, Siddharth must return to India for work.  Despite much cynicism towards India, Siddharth becomes attracted to Bharati, whom he considers “mysterious and elusive”.  Through Bharati, Siddharth delves into the wonder of India.  Meanwhile, his adventurous journey outward reflects a more adventurous inner journey of self-discovery, of seeking his roots, and ultimately his essence of being. Undergoing inner transformation, Siddharth gains more comprehension of his complicated self-identity, as well as the meaning of love.    Whereas various Eastern story-telling methods, such as Sanskrit theatrical and narrative tradition, as well as anecdotes, are incorporated into the musical, Bharati the love story is indeed nothing conventional.  Brilliantly combining India’s popular culture with its rich heritage in the form of its people, lifestyle, linguistic, history, and philosophy, the musical reflects the collaborative effort of 70 talented performers, including dancers, actors, singers, musicians, and acrobats.  In fact, the passion from the performers towards the musical and towards the Indian culture is evident upon interviewing Rahul Vohra, the narrator of Bharati, and Bhavna Pani, the leading actress performing the role of Bharati.   Fluent in French, English, Hindi, and Punjabi, Rahul acts at the international level, and is well known for films like “Monsoon Wedding” and “Swades”.  Acquired a State Doctorate degree in International Cultural Management at FIC/UNESCO, Rahul opened his company APOSTROPHE 99 in 1999, and has since then directed various productions and international festivals.  Graduated from Odissi Classical dance school, Bhavna is a professional dancer, model, and actor.  In 2001, Bhavna won the All India Dance Competition, and is famous for her roles in films like “Dil Vil Pyar Vyar”, “Yuvaraja”, etc.  Despite the substantial effort dedicated to “Bharati”, both performers revealed much excitement and honour to take part in the musical.  They also expressed their hope to communicate through Bharati not only the diverse culture of India, but also the embracement of different cultures worldwide by everyone.   Autumn: a golden season of harvest to the poetic; a poetic season of fallen leaves to the sentimental; a sentimental season of love to the romantic.  Yet this autumn is not just another harvest, another fallen leaf, another love story.  It is a magical season for imaginations to come true between October 26th to November 6th, 2011, as one visits the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto, and experiences the sensational musical - “Bharati”.   It is then one shall realize, Bharati does not merely put on show the spirit of India, but has the very spirit of India deeply entrenched.  It is then one shall recognize, Bharati is not just a musical reflecting Indian culture, but a call for us all to treasure our own cultural roots that’s essential to the very existence and sustainment of cultural diversity today.