To mark their four years in theatredom, Pushkar Rangmanch is hosting Swang Festival, in which they will be staging four of their successful dramas in the city over two week-ends.
The theatre group comprising working professionals – Sonal Mahajan Aina, Sharad Dubey, Niraj Rai and Rahul Patil — came together in 2015. They have a body of 30 plays so far, and their team has now grown to include 30-35 artists.
“In Swang festival, we will be showcasing four plays – Baaki Itihaas, Peeli Scooter Wala Aadmi, Fandi and Laut Aao Amrita. We intend to revisit these plays, but without making any changes to the script. Instead, we have auditioned for a new cast from our team and you will see new actors playing the roles,” says Patil.
Patil, who played a role in Baaki Itihaas, Badal Sircar’s classic play exploring the conundrum of life and death, has now been cast in Peeli Scooter...
The transition is new and exciting, says the actor-director. “We think that every artist in our team should get a chance to be onstage. That’s why this experimentation. The process is keeping us on our toes,” he says.
Some of the team members worked backstage and now they will be performing before the audience. Both the roles are critical, says Patil.
“When you are working backstage, you are shouldering a bigger responsibility. You keep things moving smoothly. You also have the advantage of watching the play in its entirety, you know the gist. And, when you have to perform as an independent performer, as an actor, you know the larger scheme of things. It’s not sudden. All this helps in building a character,” he says.
But does this carry a risk of copying or referring to previous actor’s way of delivering his role? Patil agrees and says, “That’s true. It has happened with me as well. The previous actor in Peeli Scooter...has an awesome look and presence. I realised that in my initial rehearsals I was copying him inadvertently. When you get into the thick of things, rehearsing for seven-eight hours, you start adding your nuances and later you come to own the character.”
The audience perspective comes into the picture when they see the play with a new cast. “Yes, that’s a difficult test to pass. I will learn where I have to improve only after the first performance. But in my mind, I know that the character I portray will be different from how it was played in the past,” he adds.
About the plays
Baaki Itihaas
It is a Bengali classic by Badal Sircar that compels the audience to mull on the meaning of life. Directed by Niraj Rai, the play will be staged on November 30 at Nehru Sanskritik Bhavan, Ghole Road.
Peele Scooter Wala Aadmi
This play by Manav Kaul journeys into the mind of a writer, Lal, as he battles demons from his past. Through the motif of a peeli scooter, the play explores the events that led to a prejudiced grudge Lal holds against his father. Directed by Sharad Dubey, Peeli Scooter... will be staged on December 1 at Jyotsna Bhole Sabhagruh, Tilak Road.
Laut Aao Amrita
It is a collage of Amrita Pritam’s life and traces it through her loves and some of her memorable short stories. The stories, though penned decades ago, ring true even today and women cannot help but find pieces of themselves in her characters. Curated by Namita ‘Prakash’ and directed by Sonal Mahajan Aina and Saumitra Chepe, Laut Aao Amrita will be staged on December 7 at Jyotsna Bhole Sabhagruh, Tilak Road.
Fandi
Can human actions be judged in isolation from the context they occurred in? This is explored through the trial of a prisoner who is accused of murdering his father. Fandi, written by Shankar Shesh, throws the spotlight on how we are all fandis, prisoners, of our circumstances. Directed by Sonal Mahajan Aina, the play will be staged on December 8, at Jyotsna Bhole Sabhagruh.