How would it feel to watch scenes of 10 plays rolled into one? This week, Mumbai group Actors Anonymous is going to make this possible through POP! Goes the Weasel. The play explores human relationships, and how individuals react to pain, love, resentment, betrayal and regret
How would it feel to watch scenes of 10 plays rolled into one? This week, Mumbai group Actors Anonymous is going to make this possible through POP! Goes the Weasel. The play explores human relationships, and how individuals react to pain, love, resentment, betrayal and regret
The play which shares its name with a popular nursery rhyme, is a metaphor of how life springs surprises on us. "It's about how luck doesn't always favour humans. In life, when you hope that a particular episode won't go wrong, it most definitely will," says director Noel Manasseh, ex-student of the Film & Television Institute of India, Pune.
Pop! Goes the Weasel is described by the director as a 'decalogue' since it showcases 10 scenes from well-known Broadway plays including The Odd Couple, Summer & Smoke, Plaza Suite and The Shadow Box.
A tragicomedy, according to Manasseh, is dedicated to the raw moment when we realise that life is never going to be how we want it to be.
The play begins with a scene from The Rainy Afternoon written by American playwright William Inge, and ends with The Shadow Box by Micheal Cristofer. While you get to watch children in a playhouse in the first play, the last brings in a man waiting to be executed. Manasseh shares that all 10 plays explore human relationships, and how individuals react to pain, love, resentment, betrayal and regret.u00a0
"We start with children exploring life, and end with a man facing death. In between, the audience is introduced to various relationships shared by roommates, married and divorced couples too. The first and the last play make life come a full circle," explains Manasseh.
The last play, The Shadow Box, remains the director's favourite for its deep and philosophical approach. "Sometimes, in the course of pursuing a career, we tend to get frustrated. It's tough to keep ourselves motivated. The Shadow Box brings to you a glimpse of these experiences," says Manasseh.
Each play stands distinct in terms of narrative and characters, and yet, all stories are bound by the discussion of imminent possibilities and unavoidable experiences that life throws at you. While the set is simple, Manasseh has carefully chosen 10 tracks including one by the The Beatles, to make the music score a interesting one.
"POP!.. strictly adheres to the script but names of characters and cities have been changed to suit Indian audiences. It's sure to transcend barriers of religion and race. Human experiences are universal," he says.
"Nobody's life is perfect. People relate to imperfect situations the best."
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On: August 16 & 17, 7.30 pm, at Godrej Theatre, NCPA.u00a0
Call: 66223737
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