A MAP OF THE WORLD
At the conference in Bombay, Mehta clashes with left-wing journalist Stephen Andrews. He is also told by officials he must qualify certain remarks made in his fiction (he calls socialism “the luxury of the rich” and ridicules Madam Mao) or risk jeopardizing the conference; but he refuses, seeing himself as a “lone voice” pointing out the absurd truths of human nature through his fiction.
Best of Chicago voting is live now. Vote for your favorites »
Luckily these roles have been well cast; Perkovich and his actors give us human beings instead of ideas masquerading as people. Christopher Royal as Andrews is all edgy passion wed uneasily with impeccable British decorum, a likable idealist who regrets that in order to win any debate with Mehta he must attack the man and not the man’s argument. As Mehta, Andrew J. Turner is a mesmerizing rhetorician, prim and conservative in his movements (here Perkovich’s stiff blocking is turned to an advantage), his arrogance obviously matched by his loneliness. Detailed performances like these don’t come along every day–to watch these two spar is a delight.
