01 June,2010 07:11 AM IST | | Aditi Sharma
In a new children's play, seven daredevils take on an evil corporation and a despot government to save a tree, The Mighty Mirembayanna, which is the only source of peace in their land
The deafening commotion inside the rehearsal room at Prabhadevi's Ravindra Natya Mandir, heard across the corridor, two rooms away, is a heartening sign suggesting that the kids are gung-go about the play.
They're busy helping workshop conductor and director Abhishek Saha come up with the song that will end the play.
With every idea that Abhishek accepts or rejects, the cackle increases. If the rehearsals are this much fun, we're really excited about the final product.
The Mighty Mirembayanna & the Prisoners of Peace is an original piece of drama with a twist. Abhishek did not have a hardbound script when the workshop began.
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The idea was to look for something that the kids could perform at the end of the workshop. But Abhishek and his team of three assistants could not come up with anything specific for the 12 children.
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So, he brought out one of his old scripts and threw it open for a brainstorming session. Abhishek, playwright Akash Mohime and the assistants discussed the concept.
Once they agreed with the basic plot line, Akash observed the children for a couple of days and wrote the script around the children.
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"The kids were part of the scripting process in the sense that the characters were built by observing their individual mannerisms. So in a way it was easier for the children to adapt to their roles as well," says Abhishek.
The action is set in a futuristic land called Bragi, where the world is rendered treeless, after the Third World War.
Only one tree remains The Mighty Mirembayyana and as long as this tree survives, peace will prevail in Bragi. The tree is located within a school's premises where the children are trying to keep the tree alive.
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However, it hasn't flowered for years and has begun to wither. The trick to keep Mirembayyana alive is to maintain discipline.
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So, in desperation, the local government turns authoritarian and imposes strict rules and regulations. To add to the chaos, a business corporation proposes that the tree must be cloned to make duplicate trees.
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"Eventually, it's up to the children to come up with a unique solution to save The Mighty Mirembayyana," adds the 25 year-old director.
Like the play, the kids have managed to come up with lines for the concluding song, helping their mentor figure out a solution on how to end the play (something he'd been stuck on for a few days). Just for this bright, young bunch, the play is worth a dekko.
ON: Today, 7 pm, June 2, 4 pm and 7 pm at Prithvi Theatre, Janki Kutir, Juhu Church Road, Vile Parle (W). Call: 26149546. Tickets: Rs 80
