under the mango tree
opens at intrepid theatre club
Under the Mango Tree opened at the Intrepid Theatre Club on March 18, 2010 for a three day run. The well acted drama by Veenesh Dubois is a roller coaster of emotional intensity. The playwright returned to her birthplace, a small village in Fiji, four years ago. Within the familiar surroundings she revisited the joy and anguish of her childhood and was inspired to write about her experiences.
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Kate Cino previewed arts events for 18 years at Boulevard magazine. She has a History in Art degree and a Public Relations certificate from the University of Victoria. kate-cino@shaw.ca
After her performance Veenesh Dubois chatted with the audience. Audience comments from other immigrants included mention of the sense of "something missing" from their lives. "Ten percent of me is absent," commented one woman. One immigrant from Switzerland described the "up and down" experience of living away from his birth culture.
A portion of the play’s proceeds were donated to the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society (VIRCS). Aviva Shtull organizes cultural bridging projects for adults at
VIRCS. "To increase my understanding," she says, "it's important to see and hear stories about families coming to Canada." She describes Under the Mango Tree as very powerful. One audience member, an immigrant, told Aviva "it was the best theatre experience I’ve ever had."
Friend and neighbour Amrita Dhanji is an immigrant with a similar background to Veenesh. They both share a thirst for their heritage, the authentic culture of India. Amrita describes Veenish as one of the warmest, most genuine people she knows. "I'm in awe of her talent," says her friend, "I knew her when Under the Mango Tree was just an idea, a twinkle in her eye."
Negin Naraghi, who came to Canada from Israel at age 15, runs several programs at VIRCS to assist youth. "Children want to fit in," she says, "so don't always get the opportunity to celebrate their previous culture." By sharing their stories, young people find a balance between past and present lives.
Sania Poluch, a grade 2/3 teacher at View Royal Elementary, uses songs, stories, food, games, and field trips to honour the diversity of cultures she sees in her classrooms. "I was a child of immigrants from Ukraine," she says, "and did not speak English when I started school at five." Sania offers a stimulating environment to her students and a belief in the importance of global awareness.
Under the Mango Tree played at the Intrepid Theatre Club, 1609 Blanshard Street, March 18-21, 2010. www.intrepidtheatre.com or 250 383-2663.
Veenesh credits her "wonderful" husband Ray Dubois with both technical and emotional support.
The couple, who have three daughters, recently celebrated the marriage of their eldest.
"Veenesh has always dreamed of doing this," says Ray, "so I'm happy to help out."
For updates on the play’s cross country tour visit underthemangotree.ca
