On Friday, March 23, and Saturday, March 24, the Indian Student Association performed B-e-e-e-e S-e-a-s-o-n at Xavier Hall. B-e-e-e-e S-e-a-s-o-n is a variety show celebrating and exhibiting the many charming and gorgeous facets of the Indian-American cultural experience. The tickets sold out for both dates, and a portion of the ticket sales and all donations raised during the intermissions were donated to Healing the Children, an organization that donates medical care to young children in need in and outside of the United States.
The production itself was nothing short of vivacious: A gala of spectacular dancing, colorful humor, top-notch improvisation and a biting, yet celebratory, pronouncement of what native students do not confront daily, but what Indian-Americans consider to be scathingly commonplace.
Most notably, the dancing in S-e-a-s-o-n was a sight to be witnessed for those in attendance. Many of the dance numbers employed the panache of traditional Indian dance, a style not usually employed by dancers in the West, or in the United States, for that matter. Yet, the pinnacle were those numbers utilizing that style of dance along with a more modern, exciting amalgam of electronic-funk, hip-hop and Bollywood music. Every time the dancers came downstage, the audience members had difficulty not throwing themselves out of their seats and onto the stage to grab a bit of the tremendous energy emanating from the performers.
And it was that energy that fed the performance and sold the show, as the entire theater brewed with the pungent camaraderie and enthusiasm of the cast, trying to deliver a funny show while offering a semblance of what it is to be an Indian-American. The loosely connected skits accomplished this task to the fullest, as many of them poked fun at not just Indian culture, but all cultures. Besides the fact that the skits were surprisingly well-written, they were augmented by some stellar improvisation.
Underneath it all, the accouterments of the players were brightly colorful, brilliant and snazzy. The women were beautiful, the men were sharp and the formal clothing was a fresh alternative to many of the fashions seen around campus. It is very difficult to experience the full richness of Indian garb by looking onto a screen or into a newspaper, but the show did justice to such exquisite attire, with one of the numbers entirely about display and other numbers involving dancers clad in other traditional outfits.
Aside from B-e-e-e-e S-e-a-s-o-n’s positive qualities, there were a few drawbacks: There was too much, and yet not enough. S-e-a-s-o-n’s three-hour duration is not a time readily stomached by certain people, but not intolerable. Also, one might have enjoyed hearing more singing than what little there was.
However, these are two minor critiques for an otherwise superb production. On the whole, this year’s show will set a high bar for next year and is an event that should be anticipated by the greater student body.
