At The Park's New Festival, which opened in Chennai, intimate theatre by D'Lo was literally, intimate. A small but sensitive group watched intently as D'Lo, a queer Sri Lankan-American political theatre artiste, writer, music producer and activist presented D'FunQt. Structured as a solo act that "intersects race, class and queerness", D'Lo single-handedly drew the audience into his own world of growing up as a queer in a strict immigrant family. Poignant and peppered with humour, D'FunQt is not only real and relevant but also an interesting attempt to sensitise audiences towards queer people and their many struggles towards finding an identity of their own and with relation to others in society. The performance takes place in Mumbai on September 10, 2012 as part of the six-city tour of the Park's New Festival. Click here to find out more. Akhila Krishnamurthy speaks to D'Lo.
Akhila Krishnamurthy (AK): How do you think your audience in Chennai has responded to the show?
D'Lo: The response in Chennai has been positive. A whole lot of people from Chennai's queer community watched it, and after the show, said they had a really good time.
AK: Were you apprehensive to present it here?
D'Lo: I was a tiny bit apprehensive about presenting the show in India only because I didn't know how the humour/storytelling was going to be received. The content is about my queer history, coming-out stories, etc, in the context of being a US born South Asian. The show is usually an hour-and-a-half, but I had to cut it down to 40 minutes, which was fine. I cut out the stuff that I thought was definitely "American" humour and politics and just stuck to the stories about how I grew up, about my family and about negotiating my queer/transgender identity.
AK: What is D'FunQt?
D'Lo: Directed by Steven Sapp (Universes), D'FunQT (pronounced "defunct"), is a one-person stand-up storytelling show featuring me sharing hilarious and poignant snapshots of the worlds that shaped who I am now. I grew up in a strict immigrant Hindu family, caught between overzealous parents who provided a wealth of material for my self-reflective musings, rants and side-splitting coming-out stories. Written and performed in the style of John Leguizamo, this one-person show celebrates the joy of survival in a world often intolerant of difference.
AK: What inspired the idea and content of this show?
D'Lo: I am known as a theatre artist and character actor but I wanted to create a show that was low tech so that it can easily travel without having to be in a city longer than the presenting night itself. This show doesn't have any props or set pieces; it's just me and a mic on stage. I wanted to make a show that strictly used storytelling as the main performance form. My life, after I got through the rough parts and could talk about it, seemed like one big comedic narrative. Comedy is tragedy when viewed through time.
AK: When did you first present the show and how did the audience respond to it?
D'Lo: I first presented it as a workshop production in New York, then performed it again as a workshop in Oakland, California. About a month ago, I presented the world premiere in New York again, but as a three-weekend run. I have also performed excerpts of it in various US cities as well as in Manchester, England. The audiences have always responded positively though some people have mentioned that some of the content has been "strong", which means, not kid-friendly.
AK: As a humorous re-telling of stories from your own life, does the content of D'FunQt remain the same or does it have the possibility of evolution based on more recent experiences?
D'Lo: Since the workshop in 2010, the script has changed a lot. This is mostly due to the fact that the story is based on my relationship with my family - and even this has changed in the last two years.
AK: Is it easy sharing these stories? Have you had moments of breakdown, etc?
D'Lo: This show is 99.9 percent non-fiction but because I've made a career of telling personal stories, I find that I am used to serving the story up in a generous way. Is it always easy? No. Sometimes, it's extremely hard, especially with conservative audiences. But comedy has a way of breaking down barriers. No personal breakdowns as of yet.
AK: Has D'FunQt been a catharsis of sorts for you?
D'Lo: All art-making for me has been cathartic but I think my work also provides a catharsis for audiences because people can relate to the story regardless of how they identify with it. I have been trained by my mentors to get as specific as possible in writing and performing. I think the more detailed you are, the more people can relate to you. A mentor of mine always says that your story is only as good as the details you provide.
AK: Have your parents watched the show? How did they first respond?
D'Lo: My parents have seen excerpts of my work and one of my solo theatre shows. They have a hard time understanding why I share the way I do but I tell them that I'm not making the work for them. I make work to find connections and to represent the voices that don't get heard often.
AK: Do you believe shows like these can help sensitise audiences towards transgender and its issues?
D'Lo: I believe that everyone just wants to be accepted for who they are. I think that audiences can either relate to the stories or they can learn from the stories. This particular show allows people to hear how one person navigated and survived through intolerance. If you're "straight" you can have your heart opened through the story, and then be more sensitive to the people you meet who aren't like you.
AK: Is storytelling an important part of your activism in this community?
D'Lo: Definitely. I am a strong believer in creating art that can lead to change. I also believe that this story intersects with race, class and queerness.
AK: Among the many things you do - you are a storyteller, theatre artiste, writer, activist, music producer - which do you identify most closely with?
D'Lo: Theatre artiste mostly because I've been writing and acting a lot. I started off doing hip-hop and spoken word, but the writing and performing have always had a theatrical element to it. I think I would say that I am a political and comedic theatre artiste and writer.
AK: Identity has been an important word in your growing years? How would you define the word?
D'Lo: The labels I take on, comprise the experiences that have shaped me.
AK: Would you say you are now comfortable in your skin?
D'Lo: We all do the best we can, given the bodies we're given. I'm as comfortable in my skin as the next person. Of course, we all want to change something about ourselves, whether that is spiritually, physically or mentally.
AK: What is your relationship with India?
D'Lo: I'm still trying to figure that one out. Technically, I am South Asian, but the Sri Lankan-Tamil- American experience is different than the Indian one in many ways. The points of connection are the cultural similarities.
Akhila Krishnamurthy is a freelance writer based in Chennai. She writes extensively on the arts - music, dance, theatre, in that order - and the people who make the arts happen.
Akhila Krishnamurthy (AK): How do you think your audience in Chennai has responded to the show?
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