Where actors have no names

Six years after its premier, Butter and Mashed Banana, a political sattire with three actors and several unnamed characters by city-based Harami Theatre, still holds relevance

Where actors have no names

Six years after its premier, Butter and Mashed Banana, a political sattire with three actors and several unnamed characters by city-based Harami Theatre, still holds relevance

They have done it before, and they are here to do it again, this time though as a gesture to close the near phenomenon, they caused in the world of theatre. The English play Butter and Mashed Banana by city-based Harami Theatre that premiered at the QTPu00a0 Festival in Mumbai in 2005 has played several shows in the city and all over the country.

The Bare Act: Gulshan Devaiah, Vivek Madan and Vinod Ravindran

In its 51st show now, playwright and director Ajay Krishnan has decided to dissemble the production but not without a last fitting series of shows as a tribute at two venues in town. The performance this time will feature actors Vinod Ravindran, freelance actor, Vivek Madan of Harlequin Theatre fame and Gulshan Devaiah of Dum Maaro Dum and Shaitan fame.

The play is a political sattire that takes a dig on political affairs in the country in a humorous yet thought provoking way. The story begins with a child, who is torn between political turmoil at home owing to having a leftist father and right wing supporter for a mother. The difficulty begins from the time when he has to place his foot on the ground for the first time, he can't decide if it must be the left or the right and decides to opt for both. "The play is a metaphor in itself and not just about including metaphors," says Madan.

Butter and Mashed Banana, a mixture that was primarily used to grease the noose before hanging someone was taken as a title from one of the many episodes in the play. "That part of the script was never performed on stage but the title remained as it turned out to be a metaphor for gagging or suppressing freedom of speech," says Ravindran.

The play chooses to stay clear off direct references and refers to politics, corruption and freedom through general and everyday happenings. This ensures it fits any time of political turmoil in nearly any situation. "It was when we were hearing about the 2G scam that we realised the play fit the scenario indirectly and must be performed again," says Ravindran.

Besides a powerful script, what makes Butter and Mashed Banana distinctly different is the minimalist approach on stage. Three actors attired minimally (in pants alone) perform on a stark stage. The only items being used as props are a pink tub and a bed sheet, which is made versatile to represent different things, even people sometimes. None of the actors leave the stage through the duration of the performance and the lights go on once they take stage with no lighting changes right until the end.

Live music by Krishnan will be part of this bare setup. Movement and dialogue alone is used to tell the story of a single man with the assistance of ghunghrus that aid movement and provide a break from the monotony of speech. The script in itselfu00a0 the actors tell us has a rhythm. "The idea is to give the audience little stimulus besides the script itself and keep the focus on the text," says Madan.

Where Ranga Shankara , JP Nagar
On June 11, 7.30 pm and June 12, 3.30 and 7.30 pm
For R 150
Where Jagriti, Whitefield
On June 18 and 19, 3 and 6.30 pm
For R 250
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