A Sprawling, Haunting New Play, ‘Counting and Cracking’ Leaves Viewers Wanting Even More

Set in war-ravaged Sri Lanka and Australia, ‘Counting and Cracking’ most fundamentally is about the bonds formed within families and between generations, both in spite of external forces and under their influence.

Pia Johnson
Ahilan Karunaharan, Kaivalya Suvarna, Abbie-Lee Lewis, Shiv Palekar, Nadie Kammallaweera, and Gandhi MacIntyre in 'Counting and Cracking.' Pia Johnson

History is so packed with conflicts that turned into humanitarian disasters that some tend to be overlooked, or at least underemphasized. I’m not sure how much today’s high school students learn about the civil war that raged in Sri Lanka between 1983 and 2009 — or its long and complicated lead-up, for that matter — but as is made clear in S. Shakthidharan’s sprawling, haunting new play, “Counting and Cracking,” it can’t be enough. 

Have an account? Log In

To continue reading, please select:

Limited Access

Enter your email to read for FREE

Get 1 FREE article

Continue with
or
Unlimited Access

Join the Sun for a PENNY A DAY

$0.01/day for 60 days

Cancel anytime

100% ad free experience

Unlimited article and commenting access

Full annual dues ($120) billed after 60 days

By continuing you agree to our
Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
Advertisement
The New York Sun

© 2025 The New York Sun Company, LLC. All rights reserved.

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The material on this site is protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used.

The New York Sun

Sign in or  Create a free account

or
By continuing you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use