Crash

Photo of Pamela Mala Sinha by Aviva Armour-Ostroff.

Memory plays a pivotal role in Pamela Sinha's solo show Crash, the winner of four Dora Awards, including Outstanding New Play and Performance by a female in a Principal Role, now on stage at Theatre Passe Muraille.

Directed by Alan Dilworth, the story is told from the perspective of "the girl" (Sinha), a young woman who falls victim to a violent sexual attack in her Montreal apartment. This traumatic event changes her innocent life and relationship with her loving family, casting a dark shadow over their world and causing her spiritual father to lose faith. It is the strength of his love, however, that keeps the family close, even when he becomes sick.

Sinha's fractured narrative weaves back and forth between the girl's coming to grips with the reality of the rape and the loss of her father—she is completely powerless in both situations—and must learn to move forward on her own terms.

Featuring a minimalist, multi-level set and haunting lighting by Kimberly Purtell, smashing sound design by Debashis Sinha, projections by Cameron Davis, and Hindu-inspired choreography by Monica Dottor, the production effectively illustrates the raw emotion experienced by the girl as she moves through her journey. Sinha gives a strong performance, navigating between characters and scenes with grace, confidence and extreme vulnerabillity.

This is a brave, heartwrenching and ultimately cathartic piece that will remind you of the healing power of love. 

Crash runs until October 19 in the Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace. Visit passemuraille.on.ca for more information and to buy tickets.

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