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Go. Hurry up and go. Get tickets now for Mrs. Krishnan’s Party playing at the Grand Theatre’s Auburn Stage until March 7. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT sleep on this production – it is so much fun!
Picture this: You’re not just watching a play—you’re at Mrs. Krishnan’s Onam party, dodging flying chapatis, swaying to Bollywood beats in a steamy corner shop backroom. My daughter and I caught opening night (Feb 25, 2026) at the Grand’s intimate Auburn Stage, and it unfolded as 90 intermission-free minutes of chaos-meets-heart—the kind of show that lingers like leftover dal.
Immersive Magic and Audience Rapport
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We were welcomed into the theatre as if we were being seated at a restaurant, “Party of two, please follow me this way…” The theatre is set up to be the makeshift back room of a South Asian grocery store. Boxes and props are scattered everywhere, cooking utensils, pots and pans. All will play a role in this interactive play written by Jacob Rajan and Justin Lewis, co-founders of New Zealand’s Indian Ink Theatre Company.
“Onam is such a great celebration because it shows there is more to happiness than just a smile, that to know joy you must also feel sorrow, without death there can be no rebirth,” notes co-creator Justin Lewis. “Maybe a party can change your life; you may meet someone who gives you the courage to set yourself free or shows you the resilience required to be truly happy.”
Kalyani Nagarajan embodies Mrs. Krishnan, the bossy auntie extraordinaire fussing over garlands, rice and cutting up a lot of onions, and her absent son’s return while grief simmers beneath. She is instrumental in relaying the details of what makes the Oman festival special and significant. She easily carries on a conversation with James and the audience as she cooks a meal for us all.
Justin Rogers is hilariously hapless as Kiwi neighbor James, roped into kitchen duty amid improv gold: pots boiling over (literally), live cooking smells wafting, balloons popping, and raw emotion bubbling up around loss, family, and found connections. Rogers is dressed for the occasion and does a great job of engaging the audience into the shenanigans.
The audience participation was pure gold—people relished the back-and-forth repartee. Mrs. Krishnan fired pointed questions at patrons, but everyone dove in happily, creating fresh magic nightly. VIP seats left patrons fully immerse by placing them at a table right smack in the middle of the Auburn Stage); even standard seats felt personal thanks to the Auburn’s cozy scale.
I commend Artistic Director Rachel Peake and the Grand Theatre’s sponsors for bringing such diverse, enriching theatre to London, Ontario. A Grand Theatre supporter I know from my fundraising days shared that his wife—a dedicated patron—championed bringing this production to the stage. It is that kind of community support that keeps the arts community alive and well in London, Ontario. It’s wonderful to see a window into the immigrant experience, whether here or abroad, highlighting resilience, community, and joy through a fresh cultural lens.
Family-Friendly Fun for All Ages
Notably, we saw a couple with pre-teen kids in the audience who adored it—the girl raved about Mrs. K dancing on the table, the boy loved the beats, and Mom beamed that they wanted to taste the dal (and loved it!). This is easily a family-friendly production: appropriate language, humour that lands broadly, suitable for kids, teens, or senior parents.
Plenty of seniors filled the crowd, grooving to the dancing, music, and laughs. I encourage bringing your children, grandchildren, or elders—it’s interactive bliss that unites generations without pandering. It’s a great way to introduce you to a festival or culture that may be unfamiliar. It was to us and we loved it.
While standard tickets are reasonably priced ($48+) , the Grand Theatre continues to offer Canada Life Pay What You Can pricing for the performance on Sunday, March 1 at 2 p.m. Take advantage of this great offer so you can see great theatre at a price that suits you.
Final Bite: Don’t Miss This Gem
I highly recommend tickets—it’s one of the best productions I’ve seen: interactive, well-written, with stellar acting. Worth a family outing or date night; do not miss this riotous, restorative romp. Five stars: hilarious, moving, unforgettable.
All we are missing is the recipe for the dal. #justsayin!
Other Grand Theatre Productions:
- Piaf & Dietrich: Grand Theatre’s Unexpected Friendship Illuminated
- Grand Theatre’s Primary Trust: Quirky Triumph Over Trauma in London Ontario
- Enchanting Holiday Magic: Disney’s Frozen at London’s Grand Theatre
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Hello! Thanks for the lovely write up!
Our recipe can be found here 🙂
https://indianink.co.nz/recipe-the-dahl-in-mrs-krishnans-party/
Sounds like a wonderful experience!! Thanks for this post!
It was great. A full immersive experience. You should go!