Sweetmeats Review: The Ripe Fruits of Late Love at Bush Theatre
Love stories rarely begin in diabetes clinics, and widowed South Asians navigating declining health in their later years are not conventional romantic leads. Yet, this is precisely where Karim Khan's quietly passionate and deeply moving play, Sweetmeats, unfolds. Despite a slightly overlong running time, this production at London's Bush Theatre delivers a narrative that cuts straight to the heart, offering a tender portrait of companionship forged through shared grief and illness.
Authentic Multilingual Dialogue and Crackling Chemistry
Karim Khan excels at crafting authentic multilingual conversations that resonate with diasporic life. From their initial encounter, the characters Liaquat and Hema fluidly transition between Hindi and English, creating a rich and vivid soundscape. Shobu Kapoor portrays Hema with sharp fire and initial exasperation towards Rehan Sheikh's gentle, teddy-bear-like Liaquat, who blithely ignores his diabetes. Over time, their chemistry ignites, particularly in scenes where they secretly indulge in mangoes, allowing Hema a fleeting escape from concerns over rising sugar levels.
Stark Contrasts: Companionship Versus Isolation
These moments of tentative connection starkly contrast with the profound isolation in the characters' wider lives. Natasha Kathi-Chandra's direction immerses the audience in their empty homes, where Liaquat replays tapes of his late wife's voice, and Hema sips chai while knitting in silence. Although the pacing occasionally slackens here, the stillness intensifies the dull ache of loneliness, making the budding relationship all the more poignant.
Renewed Life Through Dialogue and Food
With Kapoor and Sheikh leading the cast, the dialogue hums with an easy, lifelike warmth. They tease, spar, and teach each other new perspectives, gently reopening doors they believed were permanently closed. While grief lingers, their interactions pulse with renewed vitality. Food emerges as their primary love language, as they exchange recipes, with Liaquat clinging to memories by preserving his wife's last meal in an ice-cream box in the freezer.
Unresolved Elements and Production Nuances
Despite its strengths, some script elements feel unresolved. The emotional impact of a fire at Liaquat's house is glossed over, and insights into their relationships with children remain fleeting. Additionally, for audience members seated on the sides, sightlines can be frustrating, as much of Aldo Vázquez's detailed set is oriented forward, potentially limiting the viewing experience.
A Defiant and Timely Portrait
Even with these minor niggles, Khan's play powerfully amplifies voices often marginalized in mainstream narratives. Given diabetes's disproportionate effect on the South Asian community, Sweetmeats offers a defiant and timely depiction of lives frequently pushed to the edges. It celebrates resilience and connection in the face of adversity, making it a must-see production.
Sweetmeats continues at the Bush Theatre in London until March 21, presenting a heartfelt exploration of late-life love that resonates deeply with audiences seeking authentic and diverse storytelling.
