Review: 'The Lake Effect' at Silk Road Rising, Chicago

This review first ran in May 2013, during the play's premiere run. Performance details below are archival.

The Lake Effect is a 90-minute drama staged by three incredible actors. Pulitzer finalist Rajiv Joseph wrote a simple but very strong drama — the tale of how an Indian-origin family tries to reason with and console each other after the death of their father. The 80-seat hall was packed with people from different backgrounds.

The star cast was probably tailor-made; they were able to evoke emotions and keep the audience captive the whole time.

"Priya," played by actor Minita Gandhi, is superb. She could easily switch between spewing obscenities and then tearing up with equal credibility. Her performance often left the audience teary-eyed. Actor Adam Poss plays her brother, "Vijay."

Adam Poss does justice to his role of the stereotypical Asian bookish kid — always earning straight A's in school, turned Wall-Streeter who then loses his job. His controlled performance brought the balance needed to the emotional sister. The brother-sister fights and conversations have been put together well.

The real delight was "Bernard," played by Mark Smith. He has perfected the role of a childlike African-American who gets pulled into the family's chaos. It was a difficult role, but he made you believe — and almost root for him. The end scene, where he says, "I can always eat," will stay with me forever.

Director Timothy Douglas has done an amazing job keeping the audience engaged and guessing — a tough feat with a 3-character cast. The only jarring note: in some places the exchanges between the brother and sister turn into a shouting match with not much impact.

It is a must-watch for people of Indian origin — but I am sure anybody who has been an immigrant will be able to see a sliver of their experience reflected in the play.

Details (archival)

Silk Road Rising, which creates live and online performance exploring critical world issues through Asian American and Middle Eastern American lenses, produced this drama. The Lake Effect played at the company's permanent 80-seat theatre venue in Chicago's Loop Theatre District, at the Historic Chicago Temple Building, 77 West Washington Street (across from the Picasso at the corner of Washington & Clark). Tickets were $35; the run played Thursdays through Sundays through May 26.

Patrons could get $8 parking at Self Park, 230 West Washington Street — discount coupon at the box office.

Review by Suchitra Sharma.