Reviews

LOS ANGELES 2013 PRODUCTION

“Like it or not, in a country of melting-pot mongrels, the dislocating immigrant experience is part of our cultural DNA. So it is no surprise that performer Tara Grammy’s partly autobiographical solo show (co-written with Tom Arthur Davis) about Toronto’s Iranian expatriate community should resonate with such poignant and universal familiarity… The freshest and funniest material — aided by Davis’ smart and brisk staging — belongs to the 11-year-old Tara and her fixation on somehow mitigating the physical differences between her own dark complexion and that of her class’s most popular blond, blue-eyed girl. What ultimately thwarts all the characters, however, is an Iran of the imagination whose relation to the truth becomes increasingly problematic as headlines from that country’s 2009 elections hint at a more complicated and disturbing reality.”
-Bill Raden, LA Weekly
Click here for full article.

“An emotionally intense, heartfelt production, Mahmoud blends excellent acting by the talented Tara Grammy and a well-developed story to reveal the rocky journeys of three disparate characters in Toronto, Canada. Hilarious, touching, and involving, the story examines cultural and religious tensions over what it means to be Iranian in a modern, cosmopolitan city.”
-Mary Mallory, The Tolucan Times
Click here for full article.

“Iranian-born Grammy offers an exuberant, hyper-polished, pitch-and-rhythm-perfect sojourn within the lives of three disparate Toronto immigrants… The highlight of this production is the taxi ride argument between adult Tara, who has had the privilege of enjoying many visits to modern-day Iran, and Mahmoud, who hasn’t seen his home country for more than a quarter century. Davis stages the scene to haunting effect. It is achingly poignant that long-suffering Mahmoud cannot appreciate this young woman’s transcendence over history, while Tara cannot express empathy for the self-built wall of terror Mahmoud has built that permanently places him in exile.”
-Julio Martinez, Arts In LA
Click here for full article.

NEW YORK FRINGE 2012 PRODUCTION

Winner OVERALL EXCELLENCE IN A SOLO SHOW – New York Fringe Festival 2012
Winner ENCORE SERIES – New York Fringe Festival 2012

“★★★★. Critic’s Pick. Working in the chameleonic vein of Sarah Jones, the Iranian-Canadian Tara Grammy delivers a knockout solo. Mahmoud follows the intertwining lives of three disparate characters in Toronto as protests rage in Iran during the 2009 presidential election. It’s easy to see why the show earned awards and acclaim at the Toronto Fringe Festival last month. A remarkably versatile performer, Grammy is equally convincing as a chatty male Iranian taxi driver; a flaming Spanish cologne salesman; and an insecure ethnic tween who grows up to become an actor (the latter clearly autobiographical). Although all three are outrageously broad at the start, Grammy and her cowriter-director, Tom Arthur Davis, slowly upend these seeming stereotypes. Initially there’s a lot of humor, but the play grows more dramatic as the stories unfold. Racism, homophobia, immigration, homesickness and cultural identity are sensitively explored, especially during the characters’ brief but heated interactions. But even though Mahmoud has serious undertones, it never devolves into a lecture. This is a piece about people, not politics.”
-Raven Snook, Time Out New York
Click here for full article.

“This look into the dynamics of the Iranian Diaspora in Toronto is an infinitely worthwhile evening of theater for people who want to know more about Iran — and considering its ubiquity on the world stage, that should be everyone — and the people who choose to leave it.”
-Zachary Stewart, TheaterMania
Click here for full article.

“Excellent direction and a riveting performance… A touching and funny look at the ways racism, classism, sexism, and sexual preference intertwine in the lives of three disparate characters, all played by a gender-bending Tara Grammy.”
-Eleanor J. Bader, Theatre Is Easy
Click her for full article.

“Commencing with almost two-dimensional types, the story closes in on the real individuals as the political, social realities of their lives close in on the characters themselves… Grammy is an agile and attractive performer. She proves disciplined and well timed, both in conducting the story’s narrative flow, and in her changes from one character to another. The performance is all the more praiseworthy for being enacted on the limited platform stage at Jimmy’s No. 43, with no curtain or props; just fluidly synchronized lighting (Jenna Koenig) and sound effects (Mike Conley). As co-author, director Tom Arthur Davis knows what he is looking for from her, and she delivers here handsomely.”
-Geoffrey Paddy Johnson, The Happiest Medium
Click here for full article.

“Grammy’s performance is consistently “spot on!” She delineates each of her characters carefully: each is a well-developed, round character with whom the audience can identify.”
-David Roberts, Theatre Reviews Limited
Click here for full article.

TORONTO FRINGE 2012 PRODUCTION

Winner BEST OF FRINGE – Toronto Fringe Festival 2012
Winner Patron’s Pick – Toronto Fringe Festival 2012
Winner Outstanding Production & Outstanding Performance – NOW Magazine
Best of Fringe Lists – The GridTO, Torontoist, Mooney on Theatre

“★★★★. Critic’s Pick. The very talented Tara Grammy plays a trio of characters – an Iranian taxi driver who’s been in Canada 25 years, a gay Spanish cologne salesman and a young Iranian Canadian woman who wants to be an actor – with great energy and lots of affection. The script, by Grammy and director Tom Arthur Davis, weaves their lives together in surprising ways, with some sensitive and sombre moments mixed with the laughs.”
-Jon Kaplan, NOW Magazine
Click here for full article.

“Each narrative arc is capable of standing on its own, but the real intrigue happens when the subjects cross paths with one another, revealing the tensions that exist not only between North American and Iranian values, but among different generations of Iranian-Canadians… Grammy is a young performer to watch.”
-Carly Maga, The GridTO
Click here for full article.

“★★★★★. Tara Grammy knocks it out of the park in this one-woman play in which she acts as a trio of seemingly unconnected characters. Grammy steps effortlessly between personas, from the talkative Iranian taxi driver Mahmoud, to the flamboyant Spaniard [Emanuelos], to a histrionic teenage version of herself. Amidst uproarious laughter, the characters slowly steer themselves into each other’s paths, coming upon a few personal insights along the way. Grammy uses each character as a window through which to view Iranian culture, as well as to explore her own sense of connection to her past. Even if you’re not up for some superb character acting, the show is worth catching for the reenactment of the moving conversation between Grammy and Mahmoud that served as the show’s inspiration.”
-Ryan West, Torontoist
Click here for full article.

“★★★★½ . At 55 minutes, this action-filled show packs a powerful punch. The ultra-talented Grammy moves in and out of character with ease, making great use of costumes and props, in perfect sync with the top-notch lighting and sound design.”
-Lauren Gillett, Theatromania
Click here for full article.

“The three storylines are an amusingly irreverent take on immigration, gay relationships, Iran and Toronto. With seeming ease, Grammy bumps the storylines up against each other and then smashes them together, invoking a level of poignancy I hadn’t expected from the show’s lighthearted beginning. I’m a bit shy to say that with tears welling in my eyes I joined the rest of the audience in a standing ovation.”
-Jeremy Willard, Fab Magazine
 Click here for full article.

“ This show is a riot… Grammy’s acting chops blew me away. The script written by Tara Grammy and Tom Arthur Davis is witty and full of social and cultural references… This will definitely make my list of favourite Fringe shows this year and I strongly recommend it.”
-Sonia Borkar, Mooney on Theatre
Click here for full article.

“Mahmoud was an absolute joy.  As the characters’ stories wound together and eventually intersected, it became a poignant examination of the cultural tensions that inform the immigrant experience in Toronto and a testament to Grammy’s diverse acting abilities.”
-Lauren Williams, Toronto Is Awesome
Click here for full article.

“Those allergic to the “over zealous one person show” may be thrown off by the first few minutes of this energetic piece by performer Tara Grammy and director Tom Arthur Davis, but bear with it. As the piece moves forward, an insightful and emotionally honest picture of what it means to be both a first and second generation Iranian-Canadian is revealed, and seemingly unrelated story-lines are cleverly woven together culminating in a powerful conclusion.”
-Justin Haigh, ArtsVox
Click here for full article.

“Mahmoud is comedic and will certainly get your sides shaking, but it also deals with a slew of serious themes: racism, homophobia, the immigrant experience, and most importantly, identity politics. The play expertly manages the tension between the comedic and the dramatic through fine character crafting.”
-Cristina D’Amico, Toronto Review of Books
Click here for full article.

“Another one-woman show… this one starring the insanely talented Tara Grammy as an aging Taxi Driver, flamboyant Spanish gay man, and spirited pre-teen girl rebelling against her heritage, in this personal, densely woven tale about Iran and its impact on three disparate individuals in the west.  Hilarious, moving, challenging, and a fantastic showcase for the perfectly entrancing Tara, who has the audience right where she wants them from the opening moments.  A smart and wonderful show, and one of many I saw in Toronto that I hope make its way to Ottawa Fringe someday.”
-Kevin Reid, The Visitorium
Click here for full article.

MARCH 2011 PRODUCTION

“Dazzlingly Great! A Tour-De-Force Performance!”
-Oscar-Nominee Woody Harrelson (Actor/Director/Playwright)
Click here for Woody’s interview with CP24, where he mentions Mahmoud.

“Mahmoud is a refreshingly honest and personal take on how a young generation of Iranian-Canadians experience the uprising in our native homeland. This is life and politics as only a twenty year old can tell it, unabashed and irreverent, free of dogma and indoctrination.”
– Sima Sahar Zerehi, Shahrvand (the largest Iranian newspaper in North America)
Click here for full article.

Articles & Interviews

NEW YORK FRINGE 2012 PRODUCTION

VOA Persia: Interview with Melody Safavi (Video in Farsi)
Click here for link to video.

New York Post: “Fringe Benefits: A Cheat Sheet” by Elizabeth Vincetelli & Barbara Hoffman
Click here for link to full article.

Gay City News: “New York International Fringe Festival” by David Kennerley
Click here for link to full article.

Next Magazine: “Fringe on the Fringe” by Alex Erikson
Click here for link to full article.

TORONTO FRINGE 2012 PRODUCTION

CBC: “Here & Now” Interview with Laura Di Battista
Click here for link to episode. 

The Toronto Star: “Fringe Festival 2012: 10 shows about Toronto” by Richard Ouzounian
Click here for link to full article.

Shahrvand: “Mahmoud Drives to the Fringe” by Sima Sahar Zerehi
Click here for link to full article. 

Theatromania: Interview 
Click here for link to full article. 

MARCH 2011 PRODUCTION

Toronto Stage: Interview
Click here for link to full article.

Darichehayeh Roo-be-Roo: Interview (Video in Farsi)
Click here for link to video.