Rafta Rafta

The Comedy put up by the Singapore group, Hum Theatre at the Metroplus theatre fest on the 12th. The best part of the show was quite honestly the props- done by the late Mr. Mitran Devanesan- it was the picture of an almost typical Indian house- though the setting was Singapore- it could have really been anywhere.

The story revolves around a young newly married couple - an Indian boy and a Chinese girl - so a little culture shock - though it didn't focus so much on that- no food jokes. There's the typically interfering Indian boss and his vamp wife, the annoying younger brother with no regard for privacy - and to top things off the young couple are staying with his parents.

There's a lot of adjusting, finding themselves, and meanwhile a good many family secrets come out( and they're all fairly disfunctional).

The best role- and actor- was by far, Eeshwar, the boy's father- by turn, comic and tragic, a caring father and an utterly obtuse and interfering man. Some of the plot was hackneyed, the first half dragged a little, and I thought, it ended on an unnecessarily unhappy note- not entirely unexpected, but unfortunate all the same. Guess not everyone gets a happy ending

Murder and Macbeth

Following on the heels of Agatha Christie's "Mousetrap" and "Witness for the Prosecution", I continued with the theme of Murder and Mayhem with Macbeth- at the Julliard school- which seems to have become my permanent entertainment these days.

It was done with a slightly Persian theme, and again, I was struck, by how much more meaning is given to the same lines when they're performed in front of you, as opposed to simply reading them out. There were faces in the performers I recognized from the "Merchant of Venice", Jorge Chacon who played Macduff had played the Duke. Jo Mein who had played Shylock was Lady Macbeth's wife- a bit part in one was a major in the other.

Lady Macbeth and Macbeth himself were particularly good, which was just as well. Lady Macbeth especially seemed made for the part- the only thing I could wish was that she would speak a little slower. Though it may have helped if I had known this one as well as I'd known the Merchant, before I saw it.

In a way though, I'm glad I wasn't so familiar with it. The Merchant of Venice was completely familiar. Macbeth was full of surprises. I'm amazed by how many phrases Shakespeare has added to our vocabulary in this single play- from the infamous "Double, double, toil and trouble...", "Not all perfumes of Arabia...", "Out damned spot!", "Too full of the milk of human kindness..."... Phrases that have lent themselves to the titles of others' books, like "The Sound and the Fury..."

And the world's oldest "Knock, knock" jokes maybe- in the scene where the porter (here a girl rolling on the floor with a servant), is called to open the door for Macduff.

Seeing Shakespeare with new eyes

Today, I watched the Julliard School put on "The Merchant of Venice". Nearly 200 people must have been there, at the P.McLelland Theatre to watch the show. It was adapted (at least, the settings were adapted- the dialogues remained the same), to modern times. As they mentioned in the pamphlet, with the financial crisis, a play about a villainous moneylender was particularly apt. But I started off, a little disappointed by the lack of costumes...

My disappointment didn't last long. I was amazed by how well the play fit these modern times. It really brought out the universality of Shakespeare's themes. The other thing that struck me, was how much you can adapt Shakespeare to your own views, how much different it makes, when you see the same lines read with different emotions.

I remember doing the Merchant of Venice in school, a long, long time ago. We didn't perform the play, only read it and tried to understand it. I came out of it feeling utterly unsympathetic for Shylock. Later, I realised, intellectually, that Shylock was as much a victim as Antonio- of the prejudices levelled against him. But it was really brought out to me this time- for example, when Antonio goes to borrow money from Shylock, he is accused of spitting on the money lender. And he says he would do it again. Any wonder, that Shylock is so vengeful?

And there is Shylock's daughter- when I was young, it seemed to me, that she was the victim of a cruel and tight-fisted father- now, I felt sorry for poor Shylock- whose daughter had run away with so much of his fortune. I was startled by how much of a part money played in the play, and wonder if it had seemed natural to the people in Shakespeare's day, to marry for money- that seems to be the major motivation for Bassanio courting Portia and his friend Lorenzo and Jessica. Bassanio himself comes off less than heroically- in spite of being wounded (according to his costume anyway...), his initial confession of insolvency, to Antonio- where he pleads with his friend to loan him more money- to throw after the money he's already lost- reads like some Georgette Heyer about wastrel young lords.

But being without costume, it was incredibly relatable- especially the conversations between Nerissa and Portia, which was like so much girl-talk out of any modern TV show.

The other thing that impressed me was that it was actually funny! Let's face it, when you read Shakepeare, you're concentrating so hard, its hard to actually laugh, even when you know that the lines are supposed to be humorous. When you see it on stage though, the witty dialogue of Portia, her annoying suitors, Bassanio's rattlepate friend, Lancelot the not-so-knightly, all come out brilliantly. Shakespeare mixes slapstick with sharp wit in ways I'd never noticed before, and that makes all the difference between seeing a play and reading it.

The last thing of course, is the brilliant quality of mercy scene, where in the end Shylock is forced to give up his bond on Antonio. I can't help but feel now, though, that the 'merciful' punishment of Antonio was at least as cruel to Shylock as cutting out a pound of flesh- converting, losing much of her money, accepting the man who married his daughter for her wealth, as son.... at least in the end, the daughter wasn't celebrating Shylock's loss with the rest... And Antonio- when all the lover's had gone in, Antonio, for a man who had won, looked incredibly alone.

I've got done with Robin Lane Fox's "Alexander the Great" that I had mentioned in the earlier blog, and have come out even more impressed with "Alex" than before. The more I read of him, the more I feel, that as much as his victories can be said to have depended on luck, a lot of it was luck of his own making. He was an absolutely brilliant commander, it wasn't luck that he knew how to lead men from the front. He wasn't just a military man either, but one with a sharp political mind, one who understood that war was politics by other means. The only thing I object to is what I feel is the exagerration of the influence of the Greeks especially in Asia- thanks to Alexander.

I've also restarted on my list of Agatha Christies - just got through the train ride with "Witness for the Prosecution" and other stories. I love it when Christie goes all self-insertion type like in the Second Cucumber story... wish I had a Miss Marple or two with me.

Wicked!!

So, was at this awesome show in May (yes I know its end of June... what can you do?). The effects absolutely amazing... the witch flying on broomstick scene especially. There was much Gossip-Girliness, with teen rivalries and what not, that mature eventually into not so rivalries. The only disappointment was the so-called twist, which was sadly predictable. -then again, Broadway is more about showmanship, not so much about plot.

I have to admit that I loved Galinda (or Glinda)- she was so Blair Waldorf like- with her queen-bee-ness and ambition, that reluctantly gives way to a desire to do the right thing.

Elphaba was naturally the heroine (duh!)... and even behind the green paint, every emotion was starkly visible on her face, her pain as all those she tried to help turned away from her, in fact came back to hurt her. And so very ironic, the way the Scarecrow, the Tin-man and the cowardly lion were created, and Dorothy brought to Oz.

I read the book a little later, and was (mostly) unsurprised to see that the plot was more subtle and a little gorier (not suitable for a young audience types). I must say, seeing the play made the book much more palatable (the first time I read it I couldn't get beyond four pages)...

Already looking forward to my next Broadway show....

Tenant Commandments

'Tenant Commandments'- a play by Crazy Mohan, performed by the Stage Friends group. Definitely worth a watch. It does run a bit long, but is incredibly funny. All those Tamil jokes are perfectly placed, and some hit the nail on the head perfectly. I loved the comment ' If it is an Iyer wedding, it must be in Madrac Chembur, or Bridgewater' ... so true!

The various arcs of people knit in together very well at the end. If you get a chance, this is one play definitely worth watching. http://cities.sulekha.com/united-states/new-jersey/events/Play/2009/02/tenant-commandments-tamil-comedy-play.htm

Hairspray!

I continue to be absolutely addicted to Broadway shows, and when Hairspray came to Reading I absolutely had to go.

So many causes close to my heart. While the biggest theme may have been desegregation, I was completely charmed by "the fat women can win too" storyline! Especially in this day and age of holding people up to an entirely impossible standard of beauty.

The songs were sweet, but not particularly memorable. Musicals are so Hindi movie-like. The end is obvious almost from the start, and the music is only the path to get to that happy sappy ending.

I really liked the characters of Tracy's mother (Edna Turnblad- the 'drag' role) and Motormouth Maybelle, both sharp, witty and wise. Why is it always the supporting cast that steals the show?

And of course, I loved the whole age of 'big hair' (I wish it would come back- no more taming my mane to some semblance of order).

I'm going to get movie next I think, its supposed to be just as funny, considerably shorter(which is alwys a plus) and less expensive than the ive show (two pluses for that), and more contemporary.

All eyes on CATS!

Reading is turning out to be quite the center of culture. Last night CATS! came to the Sovereign Performance Arts center, as part of the whole Broadway on 6th street program.

It was an awesome performance. Lots of singing and dancing, lots of cheeky lines (what did ou expect from T.S Eliot's poetry), some gorgeous songs (Memory for example, and I just can't get the CATS theme out of my head).

The props were amazing, resembling a junkyard, with a giant boot of a broken down car, and lots of nooks and crannies for the cats to sneak in and out of. From the cats themselves there were some truly unforgettable performances. Rum Tum Tugger for example, as a cat-like Elvis (or is it and Elvis like cat?), wise old Deuteronomy, Grizabella the glamorous cat her coat now worn, unhappy and alone, who at last finds the meaning of happiness.

Gus, the actor, his glory days gone, but still able to reprise his most magnificent role as a pirate. And the most famous of all... whose name was whispered like an ill-omen over and over. Macavity the Mystery Cat. But even the most villainous cat of all was no match for Mr Mestopheles the Magician and his slink assistant.

Anyway, it was thoroughly enjoyable, so much so I could not even find it in myself to regret being out in the cold night... though I do wish spring would return soon

Fabulous Footloose!

"Footloose", the musical played at the Sovereign Performance Center last Thursday, on its 10th anniversary tour. It's something I've been looking forward to for a long time, ever since I missed "The Producers" in December, especially because it has such great music, with the title song of course, and 'Holding out of a Hero', and so many others!

The play was very good, lots of snarky one-liners... lots of song and dance (a bit like a Hindi movie), and of course, a happy ending.

It is about a s boy Ren who moves into a small town where dancing was banned after a tragedy that happened 5 years earlier. Ren leads the 'rebellion' against the town council, led by the priest, and wins the girl - who happens to be the priest's daughter. It's a story about getting over loss, and finding happiness wherever you are.

While all the actors were pretty good, I think its the supporting roles that have the most fun. I LOVED Willard and Rusty (yes, even more than the main role characters), the mismatched pair - once taciturn and the other unable to shut up!

Anyway, Broadway on 6th street is a great idea... there's a whole line up of plays ahead- 'CATS' later this month followed by 'Annie', 'Oliver!' , '42nd Street' and 'Hairspray'. I'm hoping to see at least another couple of these. And 'Movin' Out' as well, when that play comes to Philadelphia in May. So, Go Broadway!

There was something in the air...

Over the weekend before New Years, along with Ash and... Ash (heh, bad joke I know) I went to see Mamma Mia. Caought a train from the Princeton Junction first thing Saturday morning to New York where the streets were shockingly empty (at 9:30 on a Saturday... but New York ok!- less than bumper to bumper traffic, and half a dozen people squeezing into the same square foot of pavement is unbelievable), and we raced to the Ticketmaster booth (by the Bank of America on Times Square - don't ask which one- like our tour guide told us, the previous day, you can't use banks or Starbucks or pharmacies as landmarks- there's one round every corner- but remember the BOA)

There was already a queue there, snaking around, but thank god it was moving fast, also that god there was a starbucks near by to eat while we waited.

Got pretty good seats by the way, Balcony first row thank you very much.

As for the show itself .... there are no words! It was absolutely incredible! The music! The dances! The comedy!

I was amazed at how much they accomplished with what seemed to me to be minimal props(compared to the Lion King at least... which is the only other Broadway show I've seen- also gorgeous by the way... I mean Disney, Elton John, Alan Menken... I mean- The Lion King! enough said)

I loved the way they wove the plot around the music, and what music! If I hadn't been on Broadway(and hence on my best behaviour), I'd probably have been jumping and dancing around like I was back in college!

I loved every character, each so masterfully detailed with just a few lines of dialogue. I'm not going to give away plot details here, because YOU SHOULD GO AND SEE IT FOR YOURSELF!, but, just to let you know, Judy McLane and Gina Ferrall are incredibly funny. Carolee Carmello has an amazing voice, just made for some of those dramatic songs.

A month later, I'm still on a high everytime I think of the show, and I'm already up for my next one- Anyone game for Phatom of the Opera?