We can all relate to Disconnect

Nurtured by the Court’s International Department, she made her mark with Free Outgoing (2007), a startling bulletin from middle-class India. Unfortunately, her follow-up doesn’t fully reach its huge potential.

Vidya, Giri and Roshan work, under the supervision of Avinash, in the arrears department of BlitzTel, a Chennai call centre for an American credit card company. The set-up alone is a nifty snapshot of a changing world order: the bubble of rampant Western consumerism has burst, leaving emerging economies to pick up the pieces.

Due to the punishing time difference, Vicki, Gary and Ross —­ for such are they known to their American interlocutors — work 10-hour shifts through the night. In John Napier’s design of a cheap, window-free grey office, we can almost taste the airlessness.

What we long to know is the one thing that Chandrasekhar omits to flesh out: why do these obviously talented young people stick with such thankless jobs? What are their backstories? When it seems as though the narrative will run out of readies halfway through Indhu Rubasingham’s confident production, Chandrasekhar makes a hasty payment on account by having Ross get dangerously involved with one of his "marks".

The ensuing chaos doesn’t quite ring true, although the dynamics of the telephonic trio as they call, bond and bicker are compelling.

There’s fine work from Ayesha Dharker as Vidya (pictured), a gentle soul whose one burst of anger has fatal consequences, and Paul Bhattacharjee’s beleaguered middle-aged Avinash, out of step with BlitzTel’s youthful thrust.

It’s to Chandrasekhar’s great credit — but our ultimate disappointment — that we long to connect more deeply with her characters.
Until 20 March. Information: 020 7565 5000. www.royalcourttheatre.com

Disconnect
Jerwood Theatre At The Royal Court
Sloane Square, SW1W 8AS