INTERVIEW: Kavi Ladnier stars in topical play at WP Theater
Photo: Rehana Lew Mirza’s new play stars Sendhil Ramamurthy and Kavi Ladnier. Photo courtesy of Colt Coeur / Provided by Vivacity Media Group with permission.
Rehana Lew Mirza’s new play, Hatef**k, is now playing at the WP Theater in Manhattan. The show, directed by Adrienne Campbell-Holt, centers on a literature professor (Kavi Ladnier) who gets into battle of words with Imran, a novelist (Sendhil Ramamurthy). She claims that he trades in anti-Muslim stereotypes, but they are also attracted to each other, which complicates the proceedings.
Ladnier is an accomplished actor of the stage and screen. She has appeared in productions at the Public, Yale Repertory Theatre and La Jolla Playhouse, among other theaters. She also acted in Just Add Magic on Amazon, Heroes on NBC (along with Ramamurthy) and General Hospital on ABC.
Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Ladnier about the new show, which runs through March 31 and is a co-production with Colt Coeur. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
What first attracted you to joining the production?
It all happened quickly. I live in Los Angeles, and the playwright and casting director reached out to see if I was interested in auditioning. When I read the script I knew I wanted to do it immediately because I’d never read anything like it. Plus, it’s a two-hander with Sendhil Ramamurthy who I worked with on Heroes. I put my best foot forward and just went for it.
That was a Tuesday. Audition was sent. Two days later I worked on a scene via FaceTime with the director (Adrienne Campbell-Holt), and after our work session she offered me the role. I was in New York City by the following Wednesday for the first rehearsal. It was a real whirlwind.
How do you approach the character of Layla?
Layla is free and confident and smart. She is about language. Learning the script was a challenge, lots of intense scenes to memorize in a short period of time. Now that I’m more familiar with the script, I’m enjoying finding how she uses her words to get what she wants and where she needs to go. In her mind, she is the smartest person in the room.
My approach on the character focuses on diving into the text and finding her in my body, while also exploring her connection with Imran, and learning what he ignites in her. This play is very relationship-centric, so I’ve been using my time with Sendhil to really challenge myself to learn who she is on her own and in relation to Imran.
What’s it like working with Sendhil Ramamurthy?
A dream. In all honesty, he is the best scene partner an actor could ask for. Kind and generous. While we did work together briefly on seasons one and four of Heroes, there really wasn’t enough time to create real depth between our characters. But got along well then and we get along well now, and I am so deeply grateful to be on this journey with him. It’s just the two of us on stage for the duration of the show (90 minutes), which takes tremendous trust. We have each other’s backs, and it’s been continuously exciting and fulfilling to work on this together.
What do you think about the dialogue written by Rehana Lew Mirza?
I adore Rehana Lew Mirza’s writing style so much. I’ve worked on various projects of hers for almost two decades, and I wholeheartedly believe she is one of the most gifted playwrights out there.
As a brown woman, I feel deeply connected to what she has written. This isn’t just a coup for two brown actors — this is the kind of writing that all actors pray they have an opportunity to play with. She is able to weave humor and depth in such a beautiful way. The play is really very funny, which I think is something audiences won’t expect. She has written a beast of play with Hatef**k, and I feel so honored to speak her words.
How do you think the play speaks to a 2019 audience and the issues of today?
We live in a world where the narrative about Muslims is pretty much told through the lens of politics and through extremism. There are so many people who want to move past those engrained stereotypes, but how is that possible when what they see and hear is the same rhetoric?
This play shows Muslim-Americans as flawed, passionate, sexy and intelligent human beings. The exploration of how their Muslim-ness is embraced or not in their lives is being told by them, not watered down and interpreted by someone from the outside, which invites even the most open-minded person to reflect on held stereotypes.
I think it’s absolutely vital that we all see how subtle our opinions about anyone different from us can be. We need this in our society today more than ever to realize we will always be more alike than we are different. Ultimately, this is a story about relationships, and I think that’s what makes this play even more special.
It’s very difficult to make this be a story just about two Muslim Americans when I believe everyone can relate to how the one you want isn’t always the best one for you no matter how good it looks on paper.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Hatef••k continues through March 31 at the WP Theater in Manhattan. Click here for more information and tickets.
