Exploring Identity Through the Lens of Cloning
If you could clone yourself, would you? This thought-provoking question forms the core of Chenturan Aran’s new play, The Supposed To Be. The show delves into the complexities of identity, cultural expectations, and personal desires. Aran reflects on how many people engage in this mental exercise, especially those with a second-generation Australian background. He notes that individuals often grapple with two distinct cultural experiences, creating an internal conflict between their heritage and modern life.
Staged at Footscray Community Arts as part of the Rising festival, the play features Kavitha (played by Michelle Perera), a corporate executive who embodies the model migrant archetype. Her dead ringer, Kaye (Sarah Fitzgerald), represents her fantasy lifestyle as a Sri Lankan Tamil actor and OnlyFans star. Through these characters, the play challenges the notion that identity is solely defined by cultural or ancestral ties. Instead, it suggests that identity is a multifaceted spectrum shaped by personal interests and influences.
Aran draws inspiration from the irreverent humor and melodrama found in Pedro Almodóvar’s films, the surrealist storytelling in Charlie Kaufman’s Adaptation and Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind, as well as Ingmar Bergman’s Persona, which explores the merging of identities between a nurse and patient.
“We have to become these translators for a population that hasn’t had their stories told in the Australian landscape,” Aran explains. “But that’s not really an exhaustive or full picture.” He emphasizes that everyone has hobbies, different experiences, and curiosities—things they want to learn about. The sci-fi context of the play provides a perfect backdrop for exploring how ancestral connections can become untethered in an increasingly globalized world.
The play also touches on the desire to escape the constraints of a migrant upbringing and community expectations. Aran shares that his writing is often influenced by his family dynamics, noting the irreverence, invasiveness, and sudden shifts into melodrama that come with having Sri Lankan Tamil parents. He jokes about how quickly one might turn to Sun TV, a cable channel known for heightened Tamil soap operas.
Michelle Perera finds it cathartic to perform moments that reflect her Sri Lankan upbringing. She highlights how South Asian cultures express love through actions rather than words, often masking cruelty with affection. She notes that Western audiences may not fully understand this dynamic.
Aran acknowledges the industry pressure to present South Asian theatre work through a cultural lens, often requiring it to stem from parents’ life stories or be translated for mainstream consumption. Isabella Vadiveloo, the director, points out that it is rare for multiple works by South Asian writers or directors to be staged in a single theatre season, exploring the multiplicity of ideas and genres.
“All the boundaries are blurred,” Vadiveloo says. “What is a performance and what is your real life? What is your cultural expectation and what [are] your personal wants? All of those things, they meld and blend.” Perera adds that the process of working on the script initially felt theoretical, but she soon realized it was a deeply personal journey.
Aran insists that the play is a comedy, emphasizing the importance of laughter as a form of healing and finding joy amidst drama. However, the play also raises questions about the allure of a second chance at life. Kavitha discovers that the perfectionism she imagines for her clone can only exist in her mind, as the clone isn’t as happy as she thought.
The Supposed To Be is currently showing at Footscray Community Arts from May 27 to June 6 as part of the Rising festival.
Additional Melbourne Arts Highlights
For more on Melbourne’s vibrant arts scene, check out these stories:
- This Aussie teenager quit school and joined a circus. Now, he’s living his dream.
- How a Daniel Kaluuya movie spawned a new wave of Aussie stuntmen.
- She can make even the smallest role memorable. Sometimes that gets her into trouble.
Stay tuned for more updates on the arts and culture in Australia.
