Skip to main content
The signs of grief
SIMON PARSONS applauds an expressive and delicate drama that depicts a deaf son’s Hindu funeral ceremony for his father

Last Rites
Corn Exchange, Newbury

AD Infinitum’s latest one-man show co-devised and performed by Ramesh Meyyappan is a stylish hour, seamlessly combining expressive and delicate physicality with imaginative captioning and graphics along with a fully integrated, low-key score.

Centred around the last rites performed by the deaf son for his traditional Hindu father, it is a journey through their increasingly troubled relationship where his father’s stubborn unwillingness to engage with his son’s sign language has alienated the growing child from an obviously loving parent.

Reluctantly facing the washing ceremony that is the traditional duty of the eldest son as part of a Hindu funeral, Meyyappan turns the necessarily repetitive routine of delicately cleansing and anointing his dead father into an intense, graceful and emotional slow dance. Without spoken words his sign language and physicality create a series of vivid pictures of his father and the relationship they shared that expresses his profound sense of loss for their broken relationship. 

Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
tototototototdo
More from this author
tototototototdo
Exhibition review / 21 March 2025
21 March 2025
While the group known as the Colourists certainly reinvigorated Scottish painting, a new show is a welcome chance to reassess them, writes ANGUS REID
tototototototdo
Film of the Week: / 20 March 2025
20 March 2025
ANGUS REID recommends an exquisite drama about the disturbing impact of the one child policy in contemporary China
tototototototdo
Short Story / 7 February 2025
7 February 2025
The phrase “cruel to be kind” comes from Hamlet, but Shakespeare’s Prince didn’t go in for kidnap, explosive punches, and cigarette deprivation. Tam is different.
tototototototdo
BenchMarx / 28 January 2025
28 January 2025
ANGUS REID deconstructs a popular contemporary novel aimed at a ‘queer’ young adult readership
Similar stories
tototototototdo
Theatre Review / 10 March 2025
10 March 2025
MARY CONWAY admires an accomplished drama that explores the consequences of a fatal punch on a desolate housing estate
tototototototdo
Theatre review / 22 November 2024
22 November 2024
SIMON PARSONS applauds the psychological study of prisoners dealing with a frighteningly oppressive world endured by far too many
tototototototdo
Theatre Review / 30 May 2024
30 May 2024
SIMON PARSONS investigates a play that is neither a family drama representative of a polarised US, nor symbolic drama of violent isolationism
tototototototdo
Theatre review / 1 May 2024
1 May 2024
GORDON PARSONS highly recommends a delightful production of the classic novel that emanates a sense of warmth and love