INTERVIEW: Nikhil Mahapatra on their new play ‘Love You More’
Photo: Nikhil Mahapatra is the writer of Love You More, currently playing at The Tank. Photo courtesy of the artist / Provided by Print Shop PR with permission.
The Tank, the theatrical institution in Midtown Manhattan, is one of the busiest artistic companies in New York City, and they show no signs of stopping. Their current production is Nikhil Mahapatra’s new play Love You More, directed by N // Nicky Maggio, and starring Omar Rahim, Mahima Saigal and Jasmine Sharma.
The show is an exploration of sibling relationships in light of a death in the family. The playwright said the show is somewhat autobiographical, but there are strains of Shakespeare’s King Lear to be found within this theatrical creation as well.
“It’s been really nice,” Mahapatra said in a recent phone interview about bringing the show to The Tank. “I’ve been really busy, as you can imagine, but it’s crazy to see it come up so quickly. It’s been really nice to see everyone’s reception to the show, which has been very positive, so, yeah, it’s been kind of a great time. But also I haven’t had a lot of sleep either.”
Mahapatra, who is based in Brooklyn, finished a first “half-draft” of Love You More in 2021 when they were in residency at The Tank, and since then, they’ve been dipping in and out of the narrative and working on the characters. Most of the work on the show was accomplished in 2024 and earlier this year in anticipation of this month-long run in Midtown Manhattan.
“So when I first wrote the play I kind of intended it to be almost a prequel to King Lear and not autobiographical at all, but then it took on a life of its own,” they said. “Now I would say it has very little to do with the original play; it just sort of draws elements and references to it. … And for the most part, it’s autobiographical with a lot of creative flair.”
Mahapatra, who writes about queerness, race, power, family, non-family, existence, politics, grief and joy, has been attending each performance, and they have enjoyed hearing from audience members about how this personal story has proved universal to them. The issues faced by the siblings on stage has been experienced by those in the crowd.
“I think so far, from what people have told me from the audience, it seems quite universal,” Mahapatra said. “I think a lot of people have told me that they have very similar relationships. … People they’ve lost over the years and how they sort of go forward from all of that, so it has proven to be very digestible no matter what angle you’re coming at it from, which is excellent to see. It’s also a comedic play, so I think that also helps.”
Helping Mahapatra bring this vision to life are the actors, and the playwright called the performers “fantastic” in different ways.
“People have really responded to them and how they’ve been performing on stage,” the playwright said. “So they’ve been doing a really excellent job of putting in their own personal spin and histories to the characters that they’re representing, which has been really lovely to see.”
Mahapatra, a Dramatists Guild Foundation Fellow, has worked with the director for 10 years, but this is their first fully staged production together. And the playwright called Love You More their best collaboration yet, with more to come down the road.
“We both have very different inklings, yet at the same time they kind of merge in the middle, which is why I think we work really well together,” they said. “It’s been really exciting to work with them, and I don’t think I could have pulled this off without all their hard work and assistance. They’re a really great director. I think they’re going really far in their career. Just you wait, I guess.”
Mahapatra first became acquainted with The Tank in 2018 when they joined the company’s writer’s group. The pandemic disrupted some of their time at the company, but other than that, Mahapatra said the relationship has been a positive one.
“The Tank is one of the few institutions in the theater that really are there for emerging artists, and they have a lot of space and opportunity to get involved and actually get things on its feet, which is really unique,” they said. “Of course, there are other theaters, which are also doing really great work, but maybe have a little bit more limited resources. … So I think it’s really great to have the opportunity to showcase our work, not only mine, but also my director, actors, designers, everything, which is something we might not have been able to do for several more years and get it out there. And we really can do it with The Tank and institutions like them.”
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Love You More, written by Nikhil Mahapatra, continues through Thursday, June 19, at The Tank in Midtown Manhattan. Click here for more information and tickets.
