A Perfect Ganesh
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| A Perfect Ganesh | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Terrence McNally |
| Date premiered | June 1993 |
| Place premiered | New York City Center |
| Original language | English |
| Setting | India |
A Perfect Ganesh is a play written by Terrence McNally which premiered Off-Broadway in 1993. Narrated by Ganesha, Hindu god of "wisdom, prudence, acceptance and love," it is the story of two friends, Margaret Civil and Katharine Brynne, who explore their differences, life-tragedies, and opinions during a healing trip to India. Ganesha accompanies the women through a series of exhilarating moments and profound experiences in a climate and culture that is completely foreign to the two travelers.
Two middle-aged friends from Connecticut, Katherine Brynne and Margaret Civil, travel to India, avoiding their usual, safe vacation spots. Each is, in her own way, seeking to heal from the death of a son. While exploring its cities (with the goal of reaching the Taj Mahal), they encounter the Hindu god, Ganesha. However, Ganesha is not just a single entity, but exists in many people they meet. Katherine is convinced that she needs to kiss a leper, possibly to atone for not supporting her murdered son, Walter. Margaret is hiding the fact that she feels she let her son, Gabriel, be killed, as well as possible breast cancer. They eventually reach the Taj Mahal, whose splendor transforms them. They return to Connecticut to discover Katherine's husband has died, but connected in a deeper, honest friendship.
Production history
A Perfect Ganesh opened Off-Broadway at the Manhattan Theatre Club on June 4, 1993, and closed on September 19, 1993, after 123 performances.[1] Directed by John Tillinger, the cast featured Frances Sternhagen as Margaret, Zoe Caldwell as Katherine, Fisher Stevens as The Man and Dominic Cuskern as Ganesha.[2]
In 2010 the Belgian theater company Judas TheaterProducties premiered a musical version of the play.[3]
Awards and nominations
The play was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 1994.[4][5]