Theatre Speaks

Siddharth Kumar
Writer
[English Theatre]
SIDDHARTH KUMARWhich is the last best play you saw and why?

BAGHDAD WEDDING by Akvarious Productions was a terrific piece. It was strong and powerful, and had a crucially important subject. The performances were solid, as was the direction and the design

Your favourite adda to see a play...

Prithvi has set a standard that's just hard to beat in terms of an intimate viewing experience.

Your favourite playwright...

Ram Ganesh Kamatham's ability with storytelling, characters and dialogue is something I strongly aspire to. The way he approaches young urban India in the English language is, I think, very unique and unparalleled in our theatre today.

The most hilarious play you have ever seen...

DALAN by Nipun Dharmadhikari. A Marathi play at that! I can barely understand a few words in Hindi but this play just transcends language barriers. It's an impeccable laugh riot and it's one of the few plays I've seen that everyone I know, has only good things to say about.

A play you would like to see filmed. Why?

CRAB by Ram Ganesh Kamatham. I think, it would make a deeply powerful and intimate film. I'd pay good money to see that in a cinema hall.

An important play (but ignored)

CRAB. Another play, which I saw earlier this year was SHILLAK by Sagar Deshmukh. It had very bad houses simply because it was in Marathi. I barely understand Hindi but I was tremendously moved by the production.

A play that changed your perception about theatre...

CRAB is certainly one of them. Arghya Lahiri's production of THE BIRTHDAY PARTY was like a strong kick to the head. I had no idea what absurd theatre was and was completely floored by it. What also helped were tremendous performances by Akarsh Khurana and Dolly Thakore. Another production I wish more people saw and wish it could do more shows.

How do you regard the Mumbai theatre scene?

It's exciting. I think there's a nice balance of commercial and experimental work.

Can you think of a foreign production that you found remarkable? Why?

I haven't seen many outside of Footsbarn and Complicite�s works that came to Mumbai. I did see a lovely production of THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST on Broadway. Just a terrific, old school revival of a comic classic. The highlights of the piece were the gorgeous sets and a wonderful performance by Brian Bedford as Lady Bracknell.

Your favourite director/actor/music or set designer...

Everything that Arghya Lahiri has directed, is brilliant. Of the directors whose work I've seen, I think he has the best balance of approach to text. He has a strong visual sense and has the ability to get the most out of his actors.

 
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