Review: Behind The Moon

Behind the Moon is a moving story of hope, loss, and resilience. It was directed by Lois Anderson, the artistic director of Touchstone Theatre, and it was written by Indo-Canadian playwright and novelist Anosh Irani.

Set in a Mughlai restaurant in Toronto, Behind The Moon follows the immigrant experiences of three men from India: millennial-aged Ayub, a cook, middle-aged Qadir, a business owner, and Jalal, a taxi cab driver who is also middle-aged.

The audience bursts into laughter at the beginning of the play as we see an agitated and hungry Jalal spontaneously entering the restaurant just after closing time, begging Ayub for butter chicken. Ayub refuses, clearly concerned about maintaining the restaurant’s hours. However, Ayub then serves him the butter chicken because Jalal did not touch the glass display case, an area that Ayub is meticulous about keeping free of fingerprints.

The next day, we meet the owner of the restaurant, Qadir. He’s a shrewd man but it’s clear that he has a great effect over Ayub. All Qadir keeps telling Ayub is to keep the place spotless, so that he can see his reflection in the tiles on the floor. Qadir knows Ayub can cook. He just needs him to keep the place clean.

As the play progresses, we see Ayub becoming increasingly emotionally drained by the pressures he places on himself, such as being the ideal husband, father, and employee. Lighting director Jonathan Kim skillfully illustrates the turmoil in Ayub’s mind through the use of red, a colour typically associated with anger.

Jalal and Qadir knew that Ayub was struggling and wanted to help him, but their efforts rarely pierced the mysterious gloom surrounding him. His refusal of help caused Ayub to dwindle and left him disenchanted with Canada, ultimately leading him to return to India to be with his wife and daughter.

I was grateful to attend Anosh Irani’s talk about his work during an interview with Lois Anderson at the central branch of the Vancouver Public Library on March 18th. He spoke candidly about his experience immigrating to Canada from India, how he began his career as a playwright, and the stories behind the novels he has written. Much of his work is inspired by his personal life experiences, which I admire because, as a writer myself, I understand that writing has the power to heal and foster self-discovery.

Behind the Moon offers the audience an in-depth exploration of the immigrant experience, highlighting its many ups and downs. It is powerful, moving, and reflective. The captivating script and impressive acting left me mesmerized. In the end, the play received a standing ovation. Congratulations to the cast and creative team!

Rating: 5/5

Date watched: April 1st, 2025

Location: Vancity Culture Lab, Vancouver BC