RUSK
Written, Performed, and Directed by Nik Narain
Chain Theatre | 312 W 36th St. 4th floor, New York, NY 10018
April 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, & 9th
Theatre festivals are like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get.
The FRIGID Festival kicks off tonight in NYC and approximately 65 shows will run in rep at 5 different venues. Shows will run a bit under an hour. There will be one-acts and bits of longer works in progress; dramas, comedies and musicals.
Nik Narain delivered an introspective, sharply funny performance that was as thought-provoking as it was intimate.
Narain spoke their truth as an Indian trans person, carving out space for themselves in a world—and within a culture—that can often be painfully prejudiced and exclusionary. Their set, RUSK, was a poignant blend of stand-up, storytelling, and social commentary, anchored by a wry sense of humor and deep personal insight.
The 50-minute performance began with a meditation on rusk—a hard Indian biscuit often softened in tea or coffee. Narain likened this transformation to their own: from pre-med student to physicist, from vegan to vegetarian, from gay to trans. This clever metaphor framed a series of reflections on identity, biology, and belonging.
From animals pumped with hormones to hermaphroditic vegetables, from the dating trenches to the experience of growing up in the Midwest and attending Duke University in Durham, Narain’s material was both intellectually rich and emotionally grounded.
6:15 on a Monday is a tough slot for any comedian. I found myself wishing more people had experienced it live as the performance was also live streamed. Still, Narain held the space with ease and generosity, making the performance feel personal and immediate.
Comedy like this—personal, honest, and unflinching—deserves the energy of a present audience. Live theatre needs live audiences.
Click HERE for tickets.
Review by Malini Singh McDonald.
Published by Theatre Beyond Broadway on April 7th, 2025. All rights reserved.