Review: Paradise or the Impermanence of Ice Cream

Published on 14 July 2023

The first thing I said after sitting down from my standing ovation to Jacob Rajan in Paradise or the Impermanence of Ice Cream on Tuesday 11 July was, “This is why we go to the theatre!” The woman on my right and her partner nodded in speechless enthusiastic agreement.

We, as audience, were collectively stunned by his performance as he brought to life a host of distinct characters who rolled off his tongue and rippled through his body. Rajan shifts effortlessly between the main character, Kutisar (the hapless Mumbai chaiwala), Meera (a smart young girl running a kulfi aka an ice cream shop), Farooq (a Parsi community leader), Dr Rao (Meera’s aunt), Vibhu (a scientist studying vultures) and a dodgy underground money collecter to whom Kutisar owes money.

We see Kutisar, somewhere between life and death, spiral through the highs and lows of his life ruminating on love, death and the fate of vultures in Mumbai. He grapples with the notion that when a person dies, their soul stays on earth for three days as judgement day looms. If they have been good, an angel guides them to relive their finest moments. If they have been bad, they are tormented with their worst. Kutisar seems to be halfway between the two.

Roads travelled, and not, are pondered, avian science is discussed, Parsi death rituals are revealed. Adding to the performance was the perfectly syncronised puppet mastery of Jon Coddington as the vulture. (He also made the puppet.) The lighting by Andrew Potvin was transporting, the sound design by composer David Ward was flawless.

Through the contemplation of death writer/director Justin Lewis and writer/actor Jacob Rajan examine what it is to live in their insightful, felt, funny play inspired by Ernest Becker’s Pulitzer Prize winning “Denial of Death.” This consummate pair of New Zealand theatre makers are Indian Ink Theatre Company. They produce plays that make their audiences think.

So, the next time something quirky comes across the season program, jump on it. The only down note at this performance was that the audience wasn’t bigger. It’s a shame for those who missed out on this entirely original truly live theatre piece.

ANDREA LOUISE THOMAS

Paradise or the Impermanence of Ice Cream was hand-picked for FAC's 2023 Season and was presented by Indian Ink Theatre Company.

Photo: Cast and crew of Paradise or the Impermanence of ice cream join our techs on stage after the show.