A trip to the library proves to be the first step in an eye-opening lesson in all things American for first-year engineering student Navin in Rajiv Joseph's zesty comic fantasy Huck & Holden.
For an American literature class, Navin's been assigned to compare and contrast the characters of Holden Caulfield and Huckleberry Finn, and in the process of reading the J.D. Salinger and Mark Twain classics that contain them, a rebellious side, long buried by his traditional Indian upbringing, comes bubbling to the surface. In the play's first flight of fancy, Navin's desire to become a "bad boy" is spurred on by Singh, an imaginary incarnation of Salinger's hero crossed with a long-forgotten prep school buddy of Navin.
Even as Singh (played with strutting, impish coolness by Arjun Gupta) invades Navin's mind — when he appears, lighting designer Pat Dignan bathes the stage in Bollywood magentas and turquoises — Navin finds himself falling for Michelle, a free-spirited work-study student he meets at the library (a character made tantalizingly complex by Cherise Boothe). He's shocked by her willingness to openly discuss such taboo subjects as sex, and he begins to fall for her.
Joseph's comedy falters slightly as it builds to Navin's rejection of tradition, but his writing bursts into utter hilarity when Navin is pushed to his cultural crossroads by an incarnation of the bloodthirsty Indian goddess Kali. She forces a confrontation between Navin and Michelle's porn-loving tough-guy boyfriend (brought to life with unexpected nuance by LeRoy McClain). As these two prepare to fight, it's a delight to watch Nilaja Sun's Kali as she maneuvers, with attitude and flair, designer Rebecca Bernstein's gorgeous multiarmed Hindu costume.
At the center of director Giovanna Sardelli's fluid production (enabled by scenic designer Regina Garcia's flexible library set) is Nick Choksi's Navin, a grand mix of stereotypical nerdiness, hormones, and, most important, genuine humanity.
Presented by and at the Cherry Lane Theatre 38 Commerce St., NYC. Jan. 17-Feb. 25. Tue.-Fri., 7 p.m.; Sat., 3 and 7 p.m. (212) 989-2020.