Indian Ink

As in his current movie, Shakespeare in Love, writer Tom Stoppard toys with historical inaccuracies and artistic inspiration, this time in colonial India where an Indian artist (Art Malik) paints a portrait of a misbehaving British poet (Susan Gibney). Some 50 years later their unorthodox relationship is contemplated by the painter's son (Firdous Bamji) and the poet's sister (played with much mirth by Jean Stapleton). Meanwhile, a bumbling biographer (Ken Grantham) is in hot pursuit of the lively details of the poet's life. Hindu art theory and British imperialism are a few of the themes bandied about in this delightful American premiere that teases the noggin and tickles the fancy. A-