Visions and Voices: Free Outgoing
By Anna Lipscomb ‘19
Last Thursday (2/16), USC Vision & Voices took students to the East West Players in Little Tokyo to see a production of Free Outgoing. Based on a true incident that occurred in India, the play captures the unraveling lives of Deepa and her family after she is involved in a sex scandal that goes viral online. When it feels like the world is against them, Malini, the mother and head of the household, must make a decision to protect the family’s future.
(Photo credit: Anna Lipscomb)
(Photo credit: Anna Lipscomb)
Free Outgoing was filled with drama, emotion, and suspense. It was written by Anupama Chandrasekhar and directed by Snehal Desai. The cast included Anna Khaja, Kapi Talwalkar (who graduated from USC), Anil Kumar, Kavi Ladnier, and Dileep Rao. One of the most interesting parts of the play was seeing the enormous transformation Malini, Deepa’s mother (played by Khaja). Maliki starts out as a proud, confident mother who runs the family and is focused on providing her children - especially her daughter - access to a bright future. However, a viral video that involves her daughter turns the family’s world upside down as they are ostracized by their community and country for her shameful behavior. Malini is repeatedly tested as she struggles to make a decision, revealing the complex realities of the society she and her family live in such as the vulnerabilities of being female, the stigma and double standards in scandal, and the dangerous power of technology. A powerful ending - which you must see for yourself - leaves the audience reflecting and interpreting its meaning.
(Photo credit: Anna Lipscomb)
Following the show, there was a discussion that gave the audience a chance to ask the director and actors about some of the themes and theatrical choices. One thing that stood out to me in the discussion was when they talked about the universality of the play - even though it was set in India, situations like this frequently arise all over the world and the response from the communities are more or less the same. In these cases, the person involved - usually the female - get a majority of the criticism and shame without there being any discussion about the double standards between males and females, the role of technology, the lack of voice, and the long-lasting implications on the person. This play places a spotlight on these topics and challenged the audience to think about how they would react in the situation, and how they might give Deepa and others in her situation a voice in the future.
This was my first time going to a Vision & Voices event off campus, and I was extremely satisfied with the experience. The production made me think and reflect about how the play can apply to the current world. I also thought it was refreshing to see Asian American actors and actresses on stage. I’m grateful to USC for bringing students to see this production at East West Players. I hope to see more there in the future.
If you weren’t able to make it this event, you still have the chance to see Free Outgoing. The production will be run until March 12, 2017.
(Photo Credit: Anna Lipscomb)
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