Have you ever wanted to travel to an exotic land to “Find Yourself”? Margaret and Katherine do just that in A Perfect Ganesh, with unexpected consequences.

~Review and Photos by Dana Nöllsch~

The Story of A Perfect Ganesh

Written in 1993 by Terrence McNally, A Perfect Ganesh reflects many aspects of that time.

When two middle-aged women take a vacation together to India, they discover that there is much more to this sacred country than they could have ever expected. Even before boarding the plane to take the long flight to their destination, they are watched over by the Hindu god Ganesh, who will accompany them throughout their travels.

As these two friends travel together, they are astonished at the sites they see in this foreign land. Some of these revelations are quite intriguing, and others they find quite disturbing. But even as they encounter these personal revelations, they are unknowingly guided by Ganesh, who is always with them and manifests in unexpected ways.

These two friends reflect on many personal tragedies along their journey; losing children, unhappiness with their partners, and concern for the future are just some of the things they share. And the people they meet on the way also share their personal challenges. These are the stories that bring in the deep emotions in A Perfect Ganesh, and these stories are very hard-hitting.

They meet a couple along the way who is struggling with the devastation of AIDS. They also struggle to come to grips with the sheer humanity of India, the homelessness, and even the lepers living on the street in front of their hotel.

Both of them have revelations when they go to Varanasi’s famous ghats, where India’s dead are honored by setting their bodies a light on funeral piers and offering them to the river Gange.

The two women become closer friends, eventually, as they share this once-in-a-lifetime journey under the watchful eyes of their guide, Ganesh.

A Perfect Ganesh is exceptionally well written and very emotional, perhaps at times too emotional?

Be aware that A Perfect Ganesh is the better part of three hours long and never lets up with a profound emotional punch but occasionally offers a glimpse of humor.

Here are some Photos to give you a taste of A Perfect Ganesh

What About the Performances

Robin Soli, who plays Margaret, and Kathy Welch, who plays Katherine, are brilliant in bringing in the emotion of the two women traveling through India. They embody the curiosity of their characters as well as the emotional damage that life has thrust upon these two friends.

Eduardo Arce-Gutierrez plays Ganesh. Gutierrez breathes life into this God character, exemplifying both the wisdom and the humanity that Ganesh represents. Playing many roles as Ganesh embodies different people, Gutierrez shows his range and ability to depict such a powerful character.

Andy Luna plays many characters throughout A Perfect Ganesh and does so splendidly. It is a very complex skill for an actor to seamlessly transition from one character to the next. He also has many costume changes, very many.

The Bottom Line

If you are looking for an emotional ride, then A Perfect Ganesh is undoubtedly what you are looking for. But it is more than just an emotional story; it is a story of enlightenment, acceptance, and personal evolution. So get your tickets, get some snacks, and enjoy A Perfect Ganesh.

Be sure to let me know what you thought of the play.