The Undying

Soho Theatre

The production has completed its run

Photo credit: Tobi Ejrele

{Gifted ticket}

On Prav’s 91st birthday, he and his wife Amba (Vaishnavi Survaprakash) prepare the cake and candles, but more importantly, she presents him with an unexpected gift: TwiceLife, a revolutionary and costly pill that halves the age of one’s body each time it is taken.

While Amba is exhilarated by the idea as she felt she had never fully lived the life she dreamed of. Amba always wanted to become a doctor, an ambition that felt impossible then. Now, standing at the twilight of their lives, she longs not only for self-fulfilment but also for more time together. Instead of excitement, Prav (Akaash Dev Shemar) sees this as proof that Amba was never truly satisfied with their life. The fact that she sold her wedding ring to buy the pill reaffirms this.

Throughout the play, Rea Dennhardt Patel’s writing makes effective use of irony and humour. Together with Imy Wyatt Corner’s direction, The Undying offers genuine moments of reflection, engaging with themes of time, contemporary life, societal evolution over the past century, self-development within a relationship, the rise of feminism, women’s place in society, and childhood trauma.

The two actors take on contrasting personas. Survaprakash’s Amba becomes more radiant, and learns challenge her husband, something that the more reserved old Amba would not have been able to do. On the other hand, Shemar’s Prav grows more bitter and visibly more distressed, pushing him to follow the lead of his wife and takes the pill.

Seated at the side of the stage, Ansuman Biswas welcomes the audience with music that is rich with subtle vibrations and creates a mystical atmosphere that immediately settles the mood on stage. The stage designed by Sammy Dowson is restrained and refined. On the back wall, digital frames display textual descriptions of photographs, quietly anchoring memory and time as central themes of the play.

Both actors navigate the characters’ age transitions with finesse, using subtle changes in body language, movement, and vocal tone. Their performances are finely attuned to one another, and their chemistry is unmistakable.

Music takes centre stage as it guides the audience through the passing of time. With each age transition, the tempo subtly quickens, mirroring Prav and Amba’s physical rejuvenation.

The Undying is an ambitious work, but its main drawback lies in this very ambition. Attempting to explore so many complex themes within 75 minutes means that some remain only lightly touched upon. The play would benefit from further development, allowing more space to fully explore the rich ideas it introduces. Nevertheless, it remains a compelling piece in its own right.

Creatives

Writer: Rea Dennhardt Patel

Director: Imy Wyatt Corner

Producer: Sky Carver

Music: Ansuman Biswas

Lighting and AV - Rajiv Pattni

Set and Costume Consultant - Sammy Dowson