A Tupperware of Ashes Review – Meera Syal Leads Gripping Family Drama | Theater | Entertainment

At the National Theater until November 16th

Tickets: 020 3989 5455

When London-based, Michelin-starred Bengali restaurateur Queenie (Meera Syal) expresses a desire to have her ashes scattered in the Ganges, she presents her children with an almost insurmountable problem.

Queenie’s increasing decline due to early onset Alzheimer’s disease forces siblings Raj (Raj Bajaj), Kamala (Natalie Dew) and Gopal (Marc Elliott) to reunite and take over the business that she has run for most of her life has dominated.

Rich in familial and cultural detail, Tanika Gupta’s fine play uses elements from King Lear (“Please Don’t Let Me Go Mad”) and Florian Zeller’s “The Father” to forge her vision of an Anglo-Bengali family in crisis.

The sound of the waves accompanies the drama as Queenie’s husband Ameet (Zubin Varla) rises from the water to urge her to join him. Except Ameet is long dead and convinces her to join him in the afterlife.

Director Pooja Ghai’s production frames Gupta’s beautiful and powerful statement about family, evolving values ​​and tradition with care, humanity and humor.

Moments of illusion add a touch of magical realism that intensifies the spiritual journey without leaving earthbound reality. Excellent performances from everyone, particularly Syal, whose demise is documented in forensic detail, Varla as the ghost with the most and the impressively versatile Stephen Fewell in five different roles.