With a comedy of errors centred on two best friends-turned-roomates in Mumbai, Khar’s Jeff Goldberg Studio reopens its doors to an audience
The Bandra-based play features Yashraj Singh, Tarun Khem, Sanya Sagar, Jeniffer Piccinato and Jevin Contractor
Ask Jeff Goldberg what it feels like to be re-opening his studio after a year of being shuttered due to the lockdown, and he’ll tell you it’s like asking a fish what it’s like to be back in water. The writer, director and co-founder of the Jeff Goldberg Studio is ecstatic about having a production live on stage again at his Khar venue. Directed by Subrahmanian N, The Odd Couple will be staged thrice this week, starting today.
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“The last year has been challenging. We were fish without water. We were ducks with nowhere to swim. Of course we made the Zoom experience work but theatre is 5,000 years old and it feels like we’re home again,” says Goldberg. The decision to open with The Odd Couple was a no-brainer. The play, based on American playwright Neil Simon’s classic piece, is about Kabir and Nikhil, best friends who, well, don’t make the best of roommates. And their friends Carol, Rhea and Rao are tasked with ensuring their tiff doesn’t get ugly. It’s a comedy of errors, and as Goldberg rightly says, we could all do with a laugh right now.
“Nobody wants to watch a drama at the moment because God knows we’ve only been living in dramas. The other reason behind choosing to open with this play is that a lot of people found themselves in an odd-couple situation during the pandemic; you were stuck at home with someone you’d like to see less often,” Goldberg chuckles. For Mumbaikars, the production will also hit close to home — so, you need not worry about being familiar with Simon’s work. Goldberg shares that the story has been adapted into the city context, set in Bandra, in contrast to Simon’s brand of humour that is rooted in New York of the 1950s and ’60s.
Jeff Goldberg
In adherence to the COVID-19 safety and distancing protocols, the studio is operating at one-third of its capacity with temperature checks and spacing between seats, in addition to masks being compulsory. “We are making sure that your experience from the minute you arrive at the studio to when you watch the play is complete — not in terms of enjoyment and comfort, but also safety,” Goldberg assures. He also adds that programming for future events is also in progress, and next week, expect a student production to go live.
On: March 26, 27 and 28, 8 pm
At: The Jeff Goldberg Studio, 401, Links Building, off Linking Road, Khar West
Log on to: in.bookmyshow.com
Cost: Rs 350
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