Light and Magic

Every once in a while you come across a very visible example of someone pushing the envelope in their field that changes your way of looking at the medium (I’m a management guy so I’m controlling my use of the word ‘paradigm’ :) ).

Happened to be at the inauguration of the 10th theatre utsav of the National School of Drama (the Mumbai Satellite festival) last week at Prabhadevi which was followed by a performance of 'Prologue' by Ratan Thiyam.

Was roped in by an enthusiastic friend who in turn had it highly recommended to her by her professor. Overcame my lazy Sunday state of mind long enough to go and check it out (being with an attractive friend helped).

This was a play in Manipuri so had my apprehensions about ‘getting’ the play and the relevance of the experience.

The play takes the viewer through the creation of the world and the rise and fall of a civilization-and outlines man’s failure to learn from his past.

Felt pretty strange watching to be something in a language I didn’t understand-but learnt that there is much more to theatre than a script, a plot and dialogue delivery and that the atmosphere created can transcend all other elements.

The play sticks to its roots and leverages the very basics of the medium-choral arrangements, body movement, visual elements, rhythm and the most effective use of lighting I’ve seen in a play to date. This is followed by some brilliant performances (there is a difference between acting like a monkey and becoming a monkey-going beyond just facial expression and conveying it by every muscle that moves in your body)

A definite treat for the senses, but you do get the nagging feeling that you’d be a lot clued in if you understood the language (something akin to watching world cinema without subtitles-have tried my hand at that too-my last attempt was something by Yasujiro Ozu).

Now only if they figured out a way to add those to live performances.

P.S> Just remembered this quote that Dr.Vijaya Mehta used during her inaugral speech - 'Theatre is a beautiful lie that takes us closer to the truth'.
Profound.