Drama time: An excellent calendar of plays
Editor’s note: Every other month, we put together a guide to the best plays being performed across India. In this edition, we have a searing tale of a man’s battle with dementia, a Bollywood-inspired musical performed with kathak, the travails of an Indian football team, and an insider account about lives in the theatre. And as promised in our last calendar, some wonderful children’s plays. Cliched as it may sound, there’s literally something for everyone. So, ditch those screens and make your way to the theatre. PS: This is a list for June and July.
Written by: Prachi Sibal, Advisory Editor
The Father
Originally written in French as ‘Le Père’ by Florian Zeller, it has been adapted for the stage in English by Christopher Hampton. It tells the story of a man, a father, battling mental degeneration in his daughter’s apartment. It casts an inner look at the illness as it progresses, and helps the audience understand the father’s plight. Co-directed by Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah for Motley Theatre, it has Heeba Shah, Sahil Vaid, and Jaya Virlley among others in the cast.
Prachi’s take: The tragic farce has been termed ‘ground-breaking’. We are also here for Naseeruddin Shah in this unforgettable role as the protagonist, Andre.
Where to watch it: June 7 and 8, 6:30 pm at Experimental Theatre, NCPA, Mumbai. Tickets are here.
Mumbai Star
This dance musical, produced by Devika Shahani and directed by Nadir Shah, is an Indian take on the Western musical. It follows all the tenets—it is large-scale, deftly choreographed, has original music, and many dancers. It tells the cliched story of a struggler from a fishing village in Maharashtra who dreams of becoming a star. He finds a mentor, enters a reality show, and even falls in love. The music is composed by Dhruv Ghanekar and the show is choreographed by Avantika Bahl, with kathak pieces by the renowned Uma Dogra.
Prachi’s take: Go for the choreography and stay for the two narrators played by the inimitable Rajit Kapur and Srishti Shrivastava.
Where to watch it: June 14, 7:30 pm and June 15, 4 pm and 7:30 pm at Kamani Auditorium, New Delhi. Tickets are here.
Park
Written and directed by Manav Kaul, this popular play is making a comeback. It follows a simple narrative, with three park benches, and three people, all trying to occupy the best seat. Through this little tussle, the lives of the three actors unravel and you get to hear their stories. The cast includes Shubhrajyoti Barat, Gopal Dutt, and Sumeet Vyas.
Prachi’s take: We’d go just to watch the three great actors having a great time on a minimalist stage.
Where to watch it: On June 18, 7:30 pm at Kamani Auditorium, New Delhi. Tickets are here.
Tiki Taka
This play takes its name from a possession-based strategy in football, one that the makers believe finds relevance in life too. The story begins with the Indian football team having made it to the finals of a prestigious tournament. There are goals on the field and off it, as the characters navigate their lives to achieve them. Written by Adhir Bhat and Bobby Nagra, and directed by Adhaar Khurana for Akvarious Productions, it has in its cast Chaitanya Sharma, Faisal Rashid, and Abhinav Sharma among others.
Prachi’s take: We are always interested when sporting events make it to the stage. ‘Tiki Taka’ sounds racy and fun.
Where to watch it: June 24, 8 pm at AntiSocial, June 25 and 26, 7.30 pm at Rangshila, Mumbai and on June 27, 5 pm at The Box, Pune. Tickets are here.
A Life in the Theatre
The Pulitzer Prize-winning play by David Mamet is in and about the theatre. It tells the story of two actors, the young and ascending John, and the older and fading Robert. Through a series of on-stage and backstage scenes, Mamet paints a picture of not just the theatre but life itself. Directed and performed by Jitender Singh and Gagan Dev Riar for Afsana Theatre, this one promises both, the laughs and the tears.
Prachi’s take: Theatre makers living out their own lives and struggles on stage is always so refreshing. The inside jokes make it all the better.
Where to watch it: July 25 at Prithvi Theatre, Mumbai and August 2 and 3 at Rangshila Theatre, Mumbai (timings are yet to be finalised). Tickets will be available here.
…and here’s for the kids
Jungle Nama
Based on the book ‘Jungle Nama’, by Amitav Ghosh and illustrated by British-Pakistani artist Salman Toor, which is in itself a retelling of a mythical story from the Sundebans. The stage adaptation uses masks and puppets, for a face off between the protector of the delta forest and of mankind—Dokkhin Rai and Bon Bibi. Directed by Mallika Shah for Tafreewale, this one comes with both laughs and lessons.
Prachi’s take: We like it when children’s plays go beyond the themes of good versus evil for some nuanced storytelling.
Where to watch it: June 11, 4 pm at Prithvi Theatre, Mumbai. Tickets are here.
Go With the Flow
A young girl and her friends are on an adventure and this one isn’t about the forests and demons. The country is running out of water but they must investigate the source of the problem. Until, another young girl shows up and takes them to the land of the rivers. The show directed by Adhaar Khurana for Akvarious Productions, is full of song and dance.
Prachi’s take: A climate change message delivered with fun song and dance, may be the best way for children to spend their summer vacation.
Where to watch it: June 15, 4 pm at Experimental Theatre, NCPA, Mumbai. Tickets are here.
Gretel
A brand new adaptation of the original ‘Hansel and Gretel’ by The Brothers’ Grimm, in this one the two kids have been left behind in the forest. But, no one knows if they were always there or arrived one day. In fact, nothing seems certain in this play directed by Rebecca Spurgeon for Jagriti Theatre, with mime, absurdity and live music by Ananth Menon and Vedant Bharadwaj.
Prachi’s take: An absurdist play for children is something we’ll happily get behind. Catch them young and bring them to the theatres.
Where to watch it: June 20 to 22, 7:30 pm at Jagriti Theatre, Bangalore. Tickets are here.
