Now in its final week, Seven.11 Convenience Theatre’s sixth season is still great fun. Desipina’s experimental As-Am theater series is not as groundbreaking as in its first few seasons, and the format has become a touch ossified. The closing musical number about how desis can’t hold their liquor was hilarious, but the first musical season was more inspired.

It’s hard now to separate the novelty of great desi off-off-B’way desi theater from the actual quality of the initial seasons. Like all years, the current lineup is wildly inconsistent, but well worth making the trip.

In my eyes, the following plays stood out:

‘What Not to Sell’ by Naveen Bahar Choudhury: A screwball comedy of the kind popular in high school humorous interp. A funny if unsubtle deconstruction of what’s culturally acceptable in American retail — not stinkin’ ‘curry.’ Sheila Shaigany and Don Castro (The Happening) put their backs into it as the insane, high-energy hosts of a cornershop makeover reality show.

‘99 Problems’ by Vishakan Jeyakumar: A slapstick Waiting for Godot in which the NYPD’s finest offer a simpering introvert their worst advice on seduction. Seril James and Laura Anderson trade chest bumps and testosterone in stripper-perfect cop uniforms. Castro is a Korean (?) rap-admiring store clerk dressed like a Buddhist monk, the hippest convenience store uncle ever.

‘A Minor in Convenience’ by Matt Schatz, Rehana Mirza and Naomi Lee: The closing musical number about the things South Asians can hold, but they can’t hold their liquor. Sung like a country-western lament.

Although the format has become routine, the other plays still take plenty of risks:

‘Soul Saving Sundays’ by my friend Uday Jhunjhunwala: A hung-over godman encounters his ex in the confession stall. Starts off with snippets of national anthems by convenience store workers around the borough.

‘Scenery’ by Jon Kern: The life of a Slurpee machine with a very amorous female admirer. It doesn’t quite work, but you probably haven’t seen it before.

‘One Dollar Box’ by Eugene Oh: Actor Nick Choksi, who resembles a very intense Andre Agassi with green eyes and hair, arranges and rearranges boxes in his store while danger leaks in.

‘Selfish’ by Deen: A handsome desi queer is goaded by his sister to come out to his parents.

This is the final week of Seven.11’s run. It ends Sunday, June 22. Buy tickets here.

Related posts: Seven.11 2007, Desipina’s not Cablinasian, Reclaiming Apu