HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT 2.0 DIGITAL VERSION play review , English play review

	Direction : Mallika Prasad Sinha Writer : Ram Ganesh Kamatham & Mallika Prasad Sinha Cast : Mallika Prasad Sinha
HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT 2.0 DIGITAL VERSION Play Review

Parul Rana	Host-A-Performance \| Schedule

HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT 2.0 DIGITAL VERSION Review

HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT is a solo performance by Mallika Prasad Sinha, where she presents various situations of life through stories of different woman characters, each dealing with their own set of problems in life.

The protagonist, the 'mailer-daemon' is the one common thread that connects the stories of all the characters. The act presents stories including that of a woman locked in her apartment dealing with thoughts of ending her life, another woman who is trekking up in the mountains, dealing with questions about her freedom, and then there’s an aging diva, an actress fretting over her lost glory. The mailer-daemon has access to the stories of these characters through lurking behind their digital communication and acts as a narrator for the audience.

The characters constantly struggle to overcome the disconnection they feel in life with their own selves and with the outside world and seek answers to their problems. The play highlights the notion of mental well-being in a state of loneliness and isolation.

It seems relevant and fits well with the current times of global pandemic when almost everyone experienced isolation and some degree of loneliness in their own homes during the lockdown. It was around the same time when communication switched to digital media more than ever before. The show reflects the situation of the characters in similar circumstances. It does not feel like a play performed on a stage, recorded and shared online for the audience to view. It is executed well, keeping the digital medium in mind. The performance by Mallika Prasad Sinha is believable as she keeps it real and plays all the characters with utmost ease. The execution and format of the show are such, that a very intimate and personal connection is established between the performer and the viewer.

The writing is witty, fits well with the current times, and subtle humor keeps you going in the otherwise serious issue dealt with in the play. The lighting adds a lot to the performance and the entire play as a whole. It is kept mostly dark throughout, but there is proper visibility and each character seems believable in their own domain. Especially, the part of the story with the woman on the trek is very well executed, with the use of flash and head torch, they have successfully created an apt ambiance and atmosphere of someone trekking in the mountains.

Overall the play explores the relationships and fragile human connections, isolation, and loneliness. If you are looking for interesting performances designed especially for the online medium, then this is a play that you will enjoy. The one-hour play is followed by a panel discussion for a post-show conversation.

*Parul Rana is a theatre enthusiast and movie buff.

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HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT 2.0 DIGITAL VERSION Play Review

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