CHILDREN OF THE FAR FAR AWAY

Children of the Far Far Away is about an American woman who travels to Micronesia to look for babies for an adoption agency. The US has a compact with Micronesia that allows for US military bases and bomb testing- remember Reagan's Star Wars. In exchange, Micronesians get a little money that wipes out their subsistence life-style and are free to travel to the US without a passport. This is the attraction for adoption agencies. It means an end run around the INS. My mentor when I wrote it, called it "Frontline" on stage. It's debut was in the Solo Mio Festival in San Francisco.

The conference asked me to stage "Children" in Mumbai. The cast is a mix of international delegates and University of Mumbai Theater students. One morning I'm walking outside the University when this young pistol of a girl approaches me, just being friendly I think to a stranger. When I get back, there she is, Ripali, with the other theater students, and I instantly cast her as the pregnant Lina. Niru didn't have to work hard to portray the seductive taxi driver. Indian-American actor/playwright Ameera as Kada, the adoption worker, says after he comes on to her: "That smile . . I almost say yes. " She looks at Niru and his drop dead gorgeous smile lights up the room; the 5th wall is broken, everyone in the audience is seduced.

Nilam wears a white sari as beleagured Dr. Rita- "four Caesarians in one day and we dont have water for days."

In the discussion that follows, an Indian woman denounces the play for presenting Lina as a victim. My Indian friend, Shibani whispers to me, "You always know it's good when someone in the audience gets angry." Shibani asks if she can translate the play into Hindi.