In the play Pop! Goes the Weasel, director Noel Manasseh strings together ten scenes, written by Broadway heavyweights, to explore the complexities of relationships through different phases of life
In the play Pop! Goes the Weasel, director Noel Manasseh strings together ten scenes, written by Broadway heavyweights, to explore the complexities of relationships through different phases of life
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The last time we saw Noel Manasseh was when he played one of the characters in actor-director Chandan Roy Sanyal's children's version of Waiting For Godot. Right now, however, the child-like mannerisms have vamoosed. It's only a few hours to the premiere of his first directorial venture -- Pop! Goes the Weasel -- and Noel manages to talk about the play only during the short break between long rehearsals. 
"The play is a tragi-comedy about the bitter sweet quality of life and how relationships are confusing for all age groups," he quickly begins the conversation. Pulling out ten of his favourite scenes from plays written by Neil Simon, Tennessee Williams, Bill Manhoff and William Inge; Noel has focussed on relationships in this play. "From teenagers discovering the opposite sex, a newly-married couple to couples on the verge of divorce... the play looks at relationships at different stages. All we're trying to say is that no relationship comes with a guarantee, nobody stays the same and people are evolving everyday. You can say that the play is a satire about life and
human relationships," explains the FTII graduate.
Initially, Noel had a list of nearly 30 scenes that he wanted to include in the play. But realising that putting all his favourites in a logical sequence would be difficult, he cut down the list to just 10 scenes and called the play a 'decalogue.' "One of the biggest issues actors encounter is that we hardly ever get the chance to polish our craft. We're usually just busy trying to get work and running for auditions. We don't get to experiment and try new things because it's such a crazy industry," explains Noel, adding that he hopes the scenes inspire his cast of eight actors to go beyond their regular sphere of acting.
Not just on-stage relationships, Pop! Goes the Weasel is also a testimony to the strong bond that Noel shares with his younger sister Michelle, who has loaned him money for the production. "We opened the play in Goa and it's taken me a year to bring the play to Mumbai. I still don't have a producer but we're hoping the right people come to see the play and we're able to get a producer so that we can travel with it," says the first-time director as he walks back into the rehearsal room.
On: August 16 and 17, 7 pm
At Godrej Dance Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point.
Call: 22824567
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