It was the final moments of an entertaining (and enriching) performance at Prithvi Theatre’s hallowed, intimate stage. Shakuntalabai Nagarkar, the respected and fabulous Sangeet Bari artiste had the audience in the ‘zone’ and also in splits as she regaled them with her closing lavani act on stage. The Sangeet Natak Akademi award winner was engaged in friendly banter with the likes of the venue’s director, Kunal Kapoor, who was seated a few rows in front of yours truly. It was performative, interactive art at its finest, on display in a seamless, freewheeling avatar that had all of us imagining that we were at a private gig staged in a mini amphitheatre. After a standing ovation, the performers of the troupe mingled with members of the audience, exchanging laughs and posing for selfies, despite an extremely strenuous performance that was a celebration of this spectacular traditional dance form. This was a show that was staged before the pandemic.

Such is the power of the performing arts. Last Sunday, like elsewhere across the globe, World Theatre Day was celebrated in our city as well, with a promising itinerary; a marked departure from the stifling scenario of the previous two years, where online versions of acts and plays compromised this craft at its very core. It was heartening to see shows and stages return to their living, breathing form. It must have felt so good for the theatre community. To draw from the energy of the audience. To share lines with fellow actors. To rehearse in person. To exhale, most importantly.