If you are in Los Angeles and looking for something to do this weekend, might I suggest getting caught in Carrie’s Web.

Written and performed by Shyamala Moorty [of Post Natyam Collective], directed by D’Lo with video by Sangita Shresthova. Carrie, a body-conscious, high heel-loving spider is spinning out new moves when she inadvertently snares a young human woman who’s dealing with a terrible family secret. A fantastical web of entanglement is woven with classical and contemporary Indian dance and theater.[indiacurrents]

I had the chance to check out the play a few weeks ago and was mesmerized by how a one person play was able to interweave issues of South Asian culture, sexuality, domestic violence and dance expression so eloquently. To develop her script, Shyamala worked closely with the local domestic violence group NISWA. At the show I attended, several young South Asian teen girls from NISWA that Shyamala had worked with on her script were in the audience.

In 1991, NISWA opened a “helpline” to provide counseling support and resource referrals…In addition, NISWA established a shelter for Muslim battered women in 1996. Since then, the shelter has housed many women and their children, providing them with counseling, and job placement.[niswa]

Carrie’s web takes us between three different threads. The narrator is the eight legged uber-sexy super-dramatic spider, Carrie. Carrie introduces us to the teen angst ridden desi girl whose life revolves around talking to her best friend on a blue tooth, and watching Sex and the City episodes. All the while she struggles with her identity, dating, and living in a troubled home. The play is peppered throughout with modernized Indian dancing — expressing bicultural feelings through bicultural dancing quite beautifully. Shaymala and D’Lo were able to create a story with Carrie’s Web that is authentic to the conflicts with growing up as a Desi-American girl.

Tickets are still available for Friday night’s show and both shows on Sunday.

TeAda presents “Carrie’s Web”

Created and performed by Shyamala Moorty

Directed by D’lo

July 2, 3, and 5 Thursday-Friday, 8:30pm Sunday, 2pm and 7pm

Miles Playhouse, 1130 Lincoln Blvd. Santa Monica, CA

Tickets to both shows on Sunday, July 5th are two for one for Sepia Mutiny readers. Simply use passcode “hulahoop” or “spiderwebs” when purchasing tickets online, over the phone (310.998.8765), or in person and get $10 tickets!