I know I might just be a sucker for art that imitates life (especially when it comes to matters of the heart) but I kid you not, last night I saw one of the most awesome stage plays ever! QTPs adaptation of “Some Girls” written by Neil LaBute adapted by Akarsh Khurana directed by Nadir Khan starring Mukul Chadda, Radhika Mital, Shivani Tanksale, Tarana Raja Kapoor & Juhi Pande (both of whom made their sparkling stage debuts last night) is utterly fabulous. In fact its nearly impossible to describe the energy a performance of this caliber emits; its electric and intoxicating and you wish it wouldn’t end. I highly recommend you go see for yourself and then we’ll have something to rave about together!
So I feel like I’ve known Nadir Khan for ages, and for someone so seriously obsessed with Batman and U2 he does a pretty good job of disguising his understanding of human emotion (especially the romantic kind.) I heard from most of the cast and crew that he was the life of this party and I feel it speaks volumes when people you know and interact with on a regular basis morph so convincingly into a whole other life for an hour or two on stage. I am quite seriously blown away.
Mukul Chadda was clearly born for the stage (so much so that he abandoned a promising career in banking in the US and came back to be an actor!) He does a stellar job of portraying the arch-typical commitment-phobe you hope will eventually grow up someday. Theater stalwart Radhika Mital is of course amazing, and gives our “hero” a well-deserved verbal-bashing with practiced ease. Shivani Tanksale brings to life the simple girl who only ever just wanted the simple life but delivers this with incredible comic sensibility. We joke about the fact that Tarana Raja Kapoor has often been cast as “herself” (since those who know her can vouch for the fact that her personality is pretty unique!) in her stage debut she delivers a very convincing performance of a no-nonsense hottie with a soft core (oh wait,that’s really her again!) and Juhi Pande who was “freaking out” before the play since this also her first time on stage was a bubble of energy as usual. The thing is she doesn’t really know how pixie cute she is and the fact that it is impossible not to love her!
So the premise of the play is simple, one guy (the regular sort) decides to dig deep into his dating history a la High Fidelity) and make amends (not entirely without agenda) with some girls he’s known too well. Before you know it you’re reliving his checkered past with the adorable prude, the sexy princess, the hard done by ball-breaker, the elusive “one” and constantly either nodding in agreement or laughing out loud. Plus this “guy” is so entirely plausible gentlemen he might well be you (or ladies, someone you’ve dated.) Hmm kinda makes me want to go back and revisit John Cusack in High Fidelity who (bless him) was at the receiving end of much heartache.
But for a performance so entirely dependent on dialogue delivery, comic timing, mood lighting and a convincing imitation of real life this is one reality show you simply cannot miss. You’ll love it, go watch.
Tickets available for 200rs each at 022 22824567 or www.bookmyshow.com
Sunday September 27th
NCPA Tata Experimental Theater (Nariman Point)
6:30pm
Thursday October 15, Friday October 16th
Prithvi Theater (Juhu)
9:00pm
Saturday October 17, Sunday October 18
Prithvi Theater (Juhu)
6:30 & 9:00pm