Freedom Arcola Studio 2

Written and directed by Rick Limentani, former Soviet, Central Asian, remote Tajikistan is a stirring background for this drama. Benham lives on a farm near the Afghan border, his family grow poppies.  He tells a lie about an important relation in order to hold off the inevitable seizing of his crops, and slavery to the opium dealers, or 'keepers'. Benham arranges marriage for one of his daughters to the village clerk’s son in exchange for a scholarship to England for his only son Fariad. His plan: for Fariad to return home with a Western girl who he will pass off as his daughter in law to impress the keepers and convince them of his lie.

Jennifer is a Spanish maths student in London, homesick and heartbroken. Fariad and Jennifer work in the Freedom Fried Chicken take away and a bond grows between the two. Fariad persuades his girlfriend to come to Tajikistan for a 2 week visit where she can revise for her exams, and meet his family, he convinces her they must travel separately on standby flights and sends her first. Although anxious about her lover’s non arrival she initially appears to enjoy the visit. Remaining in London Fariad throws himself into playing in a band and chasing skirt – claiming to be unable to face what he done to the woman he loves.

The veneer wears thin for Jennifer in Tajikistan; when she expresses her intention to return home Benham imprisons her and all starts to become very clear. Finally released so she can pass herself off as one of the family to the drug barons Jennifer runs away declaring ‘I chose Freedom’. What this will really mean for her one cannot say although the suggestion is of an ill-fated end.

Set design by Roberto and Pablo Vidella effectively achieves the sense of the two worlds; the ironically named Freedom fast food take away is a sorry contrast the Tajik farm location. A sense of openness and tranquillity is achieved with the help of clever lighting design by Andrew Brook contrasting the dark truth behind the rural idyll. The performers deliver well sketched portraits, each with their own dilemmas and struggles to face although the pace is slow. Rian Perle portrays a calculating Benham; his motives may have an explanation within the confines of his situation and culture but he is ruthless and heartless in his aims manipulating his children as readily as he does Jennifer.  Rebeca Cobos as Jennifer convinces with the loneliness and vulnerability that make her a believable victim of this deceit. Indranyl Singharay has natural stage presence and shows Fariad as an unwilling player at the outset. Yet the sense of a love attachment between the young characters is somehow lacking and Fariad for all the motives he may have to save his family, is a cad with a capital C. The main thrust of the story, that individual freedoms come at a price to others, is a worthy and weighty theme, but ultimately unresolved, the production would benefit from some development.

Bryony Hegarty

For details of performance times and more information on the venue go to Full Listings.

Photo credit - Mel Beadel