QTP's brand new production, Some Girl(s) traces the journey of one man who travels across towns and cities to seek forgiveness from his ex-lovers
QTP's brand new production, Some Girl(s) traces the journey of one man who travels across towns and cities to seek forgiveness from his ex-lovers
Fingernails have been bitten short, fingers crossed, jittering nerves have just about been calmed and QTP is ready with its second brand new play for the year. American playwright Neil LaBute's Some Girl(s) follows the journeys a man undertakes to seek closure from past girlfriends, before he takes the final plunge. Four girlfriends in four hotel rooms across four different locations tease, flirt and abuse him, while all he wants to say is, "I'm sorry".
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"The guy is your average Joe who has made mistakes and now wants to make amends. He's very loveable, but you want to hate him for what he does to his women," says Mukul, admitting that it's been daunting to keep the character balanced.
Casting coup
The script has been adapted and Indianised by writer-director Akarsh Khurana, to base the four women in Kanpur, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Kolkata. The distinct characterisation only added to the challenges that the play kept throwing up. "Casting for the play took a lot of effort.
The women define the different phases of the Man's life, so they had to be completely different from each other," says director Nadir Khan. The group had to audition nearly 25 women before they got their final four. Producer Quasar Thakore Padamsee recalls, "Nadir and I were in London on vacation, and so was Tarana. We met at a cafu00e9 where Tarana went hammer and tongs with the script. We just loved her energy."
The other debutante, Quasar says, has brought an honesty to the character. "Initially, we'd thought of Juhi's character as slutty. But she made us realise that there was something nice to Natasha."
Nail-biting tension
Juhu and Tarana confess they are nervous as hell. "It's a big deal because it's all happening in real time, and the audience is going to react right there. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for this evening," says Juhi. Tarana, on the other hand, has decided to zone out rather than freak out over her stage debut. "When I heard Juhi was in the play too, I just said 'Thank God!'. The two of us could sit in a corner and be nervous together."
Mrs Arunima Majumdar: The scandalous affair in Kolkata
Played by: Radhika Mital
"My husband and I make document-aries. We gave the Man his first break. He made me believe I had a future with him but he ran away without an explanation when we got caught. What has that f***er come back for now?"
Shivani: The buddy-girlfriend from Ahmedabad, now in Mumbai
Played by: Tarana Raja Kapoor
"I dated the Man while we were at National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. We were best friends who dated each other. It was good while it lasted. It'll be fun meeting him again."
Nadir Khan: Director
Played by: Nadir Khan
"I've been labelled as someone who only makes comedies. Well, I just love comedy. For me, it's more of a challenge than handling a deeper, darker, heavier script."
Natasha: The no-strings attached girlfriend
Played by: Juhi Pande
"We met at a time when we were both young and ready to experiment. I'm the free-spirited flower child.
Ritu: The first love from Kanpur
Played by: Shivani Tanksale
"I'm married, with two kids. But I've agreed to meet him because there are too many questions that need to be answered. He has a lot of explaining to do."
Man: The protagonist in desperate search for forgiveness
Played by: Mukul Chaddha
"I'm a regular guy from a small town, with big dreams. I work as an independent filmmaker with BBCu00a0 in London but I'm travelling across India to meet the 'milestone' women in my life."
At: Experimental Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point.
On: September 26, 7 pm, September 27, 6.30 pm.
Tickets: Rs 200.
Call: 22824567
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