Take d Milk, Nah?
Photo by Graham Isador. Cover photo by Marko Kovacevic.
About The Show
This is the story of how I once birthed a cow… kinda.
Jivesh is “Canadian.” And “Indian.” And “Hindu.” And “West Indian.” “Trinidadian” too. Or maybe he’s just colonized. In Take d Milk, Nah? Parasram blends personal storytelling and ritual to walk an audience through the Hin-do’s and Hin-don’ts at the intersections of these cultures. The show is a refreshingly candid and delightfully funny look at race, religion and nationalism(s): What divides us – and what we’re willing to accept in the desire to belong.
Oh, and there’s a cow.
Creative Team
Written & Performed by Jivesh Parasram
Co-Created by Jivesh Parasram, Tom Arthur Davis, & Graham Isador
Directed by Tom Arthur Davis
Assistant Directed by Graham Isador
Dramaturgy by Graham Isador & Tom Arthur Davis
Set & Costume Design by Anahita Dehbonehie
Lighting Design by Rebecca Vandevelde
Production Managed by Christopher Ross
Stage Managed by Heather Bellingham
Produced by Pandemic Theatre & b current performing arts, with the support of Theatre Passe Muraille
Producers for Pandemic Theatre: Jivesh Parasram & Tom Arthur Davis
Producer for b current: Catherine Hernandez
Press
★★★1/2 (out of 4) "I was impressed — nay, thrilled — by its boldness."
-Carly Maga, The Toronto Star
★★★★ Critic's Pick. "This engaging and powerful solo blends hilarious family-focused storytelling, incisive historical analysis of colonialism and imperialism and gut-punch first-hand accounts of everyday racism and marginalization in Canada."
-Jordan Bimm, NOW Magazine
"It doesn’t matter who you are, or where you’ve come from, Take d Milk, Nah? is a must-see experience."
-Alyssa Mahadeo, Toronto Caribbean
"Parasram can tell a story, phrasing and pacing his way along to a punchline that is pure and resounding. It’s a thing of beauty to see him land a laugh-line... he’s such a confident, self-deprecating performer, obviously who has been watchful from many vantage points, that he can be blistering in his observations."
-Lynn Slotkin, The Slotkin Letter
"Hilariously entertaining and insightful."
-Cate McKim, Life with More Cowbell
"Screamingly funny."
-Sam Mooney, Mooney on Theatre
Awards & Accolades
Nominee OUTSTANDING NEW PLAY • Dora Mavor Moore Awards 2018
Trailer (from the 2018 World Premiere)
Production History
April, 2018 • A Co-Production with b current performing arts, with the support of Theatre Passe Muraille • Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace • Toronto
October, 2017 • As part of Caminos 2017 (Aluna Theatre) • a Co-Production with b current performing arts • Aki Studio, Daniels Spectrum • Toronto
August, 2016 • As a part of the Monsoon Festival of Performing Arts • Surrey Arts Centre • Surrey, BC
May, 2016 • As a part of the rock.paper.sistahz Festival (b current performing arts) • Wychwood Barns Theatre • Toronto
June, 2015 • As a part of Pressgang Theatre's Storytelling Event "Milestones" • The Handlebar • Toronto
Supporters
This project has been made possible through the generous support of b current performing arts, Theatre Passe Muraille, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Wuchien Michael Than Foundation, the Toronto Arts Council, and Obsidian Theatre Company (through the OAC Theatre Creators' Reserve).
