Roundabout Theatre Company’s gorgeous production of Tom Stoppard’s Indian Ink stars U.K. stage and screen star Romola Garai and theatrical royalty Rosemary Harris as a pair of sisters separated by 50 years and spread over two continents. Garai plays Flora Crewe, an English poet living in 1930s India, and Harris is her younger sister exploring her legacy in 1980s England. It’s wonderful to watch and totally Stoppard, and the best part of the whole thing is this trio of actors (Firdous Bamji, Nick Choksi and Bhavesh Patel) who through captivating individual performances bring 1930s India, 1980s India and 1980s England to such vivid life. Below BroadwayBox gets to know these guys better with these selfie shots and five questions about art, music and India.
Firdous Bamji (Nirad Das)
1. My favorite piece of artwork is:
All the portraits of Joseph Roulin, 'The Postman' by Vincent Van Gogh. Especially the two painted in April, 1888.
2. The best film from the 1930s:
No idea.
3. My go-to 1980s jam:
“Tennessee Fire” by the Silos, and “Perfect Circle” by REM. That's two, sorry.
4. The line in Indian Ink I love most is:
“Your father took actions against the British Raj and loved English literature, which was perfectly consistent of him.”
5. If I could introduce everyone to one aspect of Indian culture, it would be:
The flautist, Hari Prasad Chaurasia.
Nick Choksi (Dilip)
1. My favorite piece of artwork is:
The drawings of Al Hirschfeld. More than any illustrator, I've always his admired his singular ability to capture a person or character's essence with the bare line.
2. The best film from the 1930s:
It must be The Wizard of Oz, it has to be, right?
3. My go-to 1980s jam:
Oh well shoot...Chicago, A-Ha, Billy Joel, aaahhh...just gimme some MJ!
4. The line in Indian Ink I love most is:
"They would not be automobiles if we did the moving and they did the sitting."
5. If I could introduce everyone to one aspect of Indian culture, it would be:
The rolling pot of proper Masala Chai, to drink all day and night, with mitai (sweets), but only while sitting and chatting with friends and family.
Bhavesh Patel (Anish Das)
1. My favorite piece of artwork is:
My father-in-law is a painter so this is dangerous ground. But I loved wandering around Florence and taking in all the sculptures. I couldn't tell you which was my favorite or even what their names were but I've always been fascinated by the act of removing to reveal. It's just seems so impossible!
2. The best film from the 1930s:
It Happened One Night—I love those old romantic comedies where everyone speaks at 90 miles per hour and every line is a zinger! Now that's romance!
3. My go-to 1980s jam:
I'm definitely an ‘80s power ballad kind of guy...I'm talking singing some 'Heart' full voice as I'm washing dishes or working out to anything from a Rocky montage or dancing to some Journey at a wedding. If it's an ‘80s power ballad it's got my attention.
4. The line in Indian Ink I love most is:
At the very end of the play I get to watch young Eleanor meet her future husband and one of my favorite lines in the play is when Phil, playing Eric, turns and asks, “Do you like cricket?” Not only is it the world's best/worst pick up line but it also connects back to the scene where older Eleanor, played by Rosemary, tells me her “silly goose” husband had a stroke on the cricket field. It breaks my heart and warms it every night.
5. If I could introduce everyone to one aspect of Indian culture, it would be:
That's easy! The FOOD! Nothing better.
Don’t miss the chance to see this amazing trio of actors in Indian Ink at off-Broadway’s Laura Pels Theatre through November 30.
