For those of us who have never moved away from our home country, the immigration system is an enigmatic hypothetical we know we’ll never have to encounter. But for millions of people it’s a frustrating and impossible to navigate labyrinth seemingly designed to take people in and spit them out again right back where they started. Neha Poduval & Himanshu Sitlani’s An IMM-Permanent Resident, directed by Miquelon Rodriguez, invites audiences into their love story as well as their struggles with getting Neha’s PR card. Deeply personal yet relatable to many, An IMM-Permanent Resident is the perfect blend of laughter and overcoming adversity.

Neha loves her life in Mumbai. From the way she describes it, Mumbai has everything you could ever want. Except for her boyfriend, Himanshu. He’s visiting from Canada, and has to return soon to make sure his status as a citizen there remains secure. Suddenly the two are getting engaged and going off on the adventure of a lifetime together…but that adventure hits a few speed bumps. Though Himanshu already has permanent resident status in Canada, getting Neha’s PR card is proving more difficult than they thought. After several rejections, being abandoned by their lawyer, and having to fill out mountains of paperwork, Neha’s freedom consistently hangs in the balance.

Poduval and Sitlani have clearly put so much of themselves into this work, and it’s the level of intimacy and vulnerability which makes An IMM-Permanent Resident the moving and engaging work it is. Yet I loved how they also worked in moments where their training as clowns got to shine, with over-the-top dancing and silly imaginary scenarios. These funny moments were a perfect relief from the high stakes situation which they find themselves in while allowing them to show the audience their full selves.

However, I think one of my favourite elements of this production came late in the play, where Neha and Himanshu have a full argument in Hindi – no subtitles, no explanation, and yet I didn’t feel like I needed any of that. From both of their performances it was easy to tell what was being said, or at least the feelings fuelling the argument. It felt so raw and true to have the emotional climax of the play be in their shared language, and it makes a powerful impact on the audience.

Jung-Hye Kim’s set design, and the in-the-round configuration for this production, enhance this feeling of closeness with not only the characters, but with the rest of the audience as well. We’re all in this together, and being able to see and hear to everyone’s emotions in the room gives the play a different kind of weight.

An IMM-Permanent Resident is an inspirational work which I think every Canadian should see. We know we’re lucky to be born here, but you gain a new perspective by witnessing what others go through for the chance at the same privileges. At the heart of An IMM-Permanent Resident is their resilience as a couple, and the knowledge that as long as they have each other, they’ll make it through. Always.

An IMM-Permanent Resident runs in Factory Theatre’s Studio Theatre until March 22. For more information and tickets, visit: https://www.factorytheatre.ca/shows/an-imm-permanent-resident/

---

Cover Photo: Photo of Himanshu Sitlani and Neha Poduval. Photo by Dahila

Katz.

---

Thank you to my Patrons:

Natalia, Steve, Brendan, Deborah, Eleanor, and Phil

And to my supporters who’ve bought me a coffee:

Angelica and Paul, Anonymous, Adrianna, Caitlin, Jonathan, Jada, and Courtney

Would you like to become a Patron? Check out my Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/AViewfromtheBox

Or, you can buy me a coffee at: buymeacoffee.com/aviewfromthebox