Teesri Duniya Theatre presents

COUNTER OFFENCE

Written by Rahul Varma

Directed by Arianna Bardesono

 Change the world one play at a time

Counter Offence is a collision of virtues. Shazia, an Indo-Québecoise woman with traditional Muslim parents, is in an abusive relationship with her husband Shapoor, an Iranian facing immigration issues. What happens when the fight against racism comes into conflict with the struggle to end violence against women? Working backwards through flashbacks, the intersection of the two is explored, examining the consequences of gender versus race and skin-colour; forcing us to question our own prejudices and motivations.

Reflecting the streets of Montreal, the talented, culturally diverse cast including Persian, South Asian, Haitian and Italian actors, is Maureen Adelson, Amena Ahmad, Michael Briganti, Davide Chiazzese, Alida Esmail, Minoo Gundevia, Amir Sám Nakhjavani and Arun Varma.

From playwright Rahul Varma: “Whenever I spoke to peers about the play’s themes, their usual comment was: ‘This happens a lot in your community, doesn’t it?’ From what I knew, yes it did. But I was surprised they didn’t ask the same question of themselves. According to available statistics and cultural evidence, spousal abuse occurs in the white community just as it does in the South Asian community, and perhaps more often. I was perturbed by the dichotomy that Canadians perceive domestic violence as a crime if the perpetrator is a white male, but a cultural value if he is a person of colour. Throughout the writing process I was confronted with issues of race, multiculturalism and gender. I struggled with how far a multicultural society and its laws tolerate cultural differences that could have coercive effects on women; a complicated issue which posed new questions.”

For director Arianna Bardesono, it’s disconcerting that Counter Offence is still so timely. “Twenty-five years later, issues of conjugal violence and racial profiling in the police force have far from disappeared… I’d say the play has landed in 2020 in its own time. This compelling work raises a healthy debate on the boundaries we draw around what racist behaviour might be. It points at how ‘politically correct’ can sometimes lead to ideological extremes (and who pays for it), and how we often tend to deny healthy differences,” she said, adding, “All this told through each character’s rich, truthful contradiction.”

Counter Offence “is about violence, from the domestic to the systemic, the intimate to the institutional,” says Amir Sám Nakhjavani (Shapoor). He continues, “The play also presents a critical view of our criminal and immigration systems. Without being an apologist for crime, the helplessness and despair that individuals experience at the inhumaneness of the state is distilled through the funnel of individual action and often manifests as brutality towards others. We have to reassess how we respond to that as a society.” For Alida Esmail (Shazia) the stage is an important mirror for exploring complex social realities, and Counter Offence does exactly that. “People should see this play to open a dialogue with a larger group of people. They should come if the description of the play makes them uncomfortable, unconcerned and/or excited,” said Esmail.

Creating the present-day courtroom and the interiors of memory, and incorporating Persian and Indian colours, textures and patterns, is the always creative, META-nominated Zoe Roux, set and lighting design; the talented Rehan Lalani, sound design; and inspired costume designer, Erika Parra Bernal.

Continuing their mandate to encourage dialogue, the company will hold post-show talkbacks on March 16, 22, 24 and 29. An ongoing, evolving art display by marginalized artists will be in the lobby complementing the production.

Mature content—ages 13+

The show runs: Monday-Sunday 8pm—NO SHOW ON FRIDAYS—plus Sundays & Tuesdays March 24 at 2pm

For tickets and information: www.segalcentre.org    514-739-7944

Segal Centre
5170 chemin de la Côte-Ste-Catherine, Montreal, H3W 1M7