As a part of The Hindu Theatre fest, got to witness this cracker of a play. I went to the play expecting to see a musical rendering of the stories, at least that is what the colorful and choreographed posters led me to believe. But i got instead was such a wonderfully thought out comic n contemporary rendition of the tales.
The Arabian nights are such a universally popular bunch of stories, and the director, Vinodhini Vaidynathan had an unending quiver of stories to draw from, the trick was in how was she going to render them. This she makes it clear in the first few scenes. A silhouetted scene portraying a couple making out, sets the 'no holds barred' standard for the play.
Yes, in the course of spinning out tales from the Arabian nights the director takes dig at so many contemporary streams hogging the tamil mind, from Kollywood to 'Neeya Naana' gopinath no one is spared. Lest the tales should sound desert dry, she has laced in a fresh breeze in the form of south Indian Charecters of Tenaliraman and Krishnadeveraya.
The introduction to the play rightly claims the director has tried using different theatre techniques to weave the tales. Yes, very interesting and innovative techniques, indeed. Tirupathi Laddu becomes a counter for the tales, a mopping stick becomes a horse and so much more.
Modern Plays are known to make such a proficient use of their actors, that they require them to play many different roles during the course of the play. But this play i believe would set a special record in that category, what with one actor playing atleast 39 different roles!! This also requires the audience to be alert, for if they blink they would miss a lot of fun.
Talking of fun, this play could gift you a hearty laugh, and so much to think about. Even a mundane act like the Sultan entering the stage every other day is laced with so much that the audience is made to look out for what is going to be different this time.
The presence of Bhargav and Shravan brings to mind a train of 'Short and sweet' performances. Every actor in the play excelled and impressed with their performance diction and techniques. Special mention should be made of how a minor glitch in the property was cleverly handled by the actors. Its a credit to the team that i am unable to decide whether a dumb charade sequence that followed a character loosing his mike was stage managed or a part of the script.
The music and Choreography keep us engaged and entertained amidst the charade of wits. This team has so much energy and enterprise in them that they could keep going for 1001 nights and it would be a treat to watch them again and again.
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