The last best play I saw would be THE DJINNS OF EIDGAH by Rage productions. I feel the play is a gift to theatre in recent times with beautiful, in-depth writing by Abhishek Majumdar about the psychological conflicts that Kashmiri youth face. The play directed by Richard Twyman manages to hold you in the mind space of so many characters. Complexity is shown with simplicity and wonderful performances by the cast. There is no set but the design is metaphorical. The play never lets you wander away as every scene changes into another without any blackout and there is no intermission. The play keeps you glued to your seats till the last minute.
Your favourite adda to see a play
Prithvi Theatre, always.
Your favourite playwright
Actually, I don't have a particular favourite. But there are some I like. Anuvab Pal is one of them.
Your favourite play-character
The character of 'Gilli', played by Sadiya Siddiqui from the play MAHUA, written by Akash Mohimen.
A play you would like to see filmed. Why?
Yet again, a play like MAHUA can make a good film as it has a vast canvas. It reflects the interiors of India and without even talking about the major issues our tribal people face, the play conveys a lot about the changing scenario around them, simply through the changing nature of relationships between the characters.
The most hilarious play you have seen
Couple of pieces from ONE ON ONE � 'Lamp Post' by Anand Tiwari and 'Instant Behosh' by Amit Mistry.
A play character you would like to "dialogue" with...
Inspector Hound.
A classical play that you should have read
HAMLET- have been planning for very long to read it.
How do you regard the Mumbai theatre scene?
Mumbai theatre is a competitive platform with some very creative people always looking at creating something new and interesting. Varied and interesting shows happen here and a passionate theatre newcomer is always treated well and can learn a lot from different theatre events, workshops and shows which take place in Mumbai.
Have you read any interesting books/articles concerning the theatre? Why did you find them interesting?
I have forgotten from where exactly but I had read a very interesting article on performance and how performing is actually part of our daily lives. We perform our roles in society, in our families and around us for various reasons and how theatre makes us learn and explore ourselves to perform better in every way.
If you have ever been a part of a theatre production/s, can you recall an event that was insightful, significant or simply humorous?
I was operating sound for PUNE HIGHWAY by Rage productions, and we were doing a show in Ahmedabad. The auditorium did not have a tech. room and we were operating lights and sound from just below the stage. So, there is a portion in the play where in middle of an intense scene just before the climax of the play, and to my horror, my laptop , from which I was handling sound cues, stopped working. 'Windows' started to restart on its own and it was taking ages to do so. The tension was building on stage in the scene and inside me as I didn't know what to do for some time. I was trying everything to get the laptop back on track as I had an important sound cue in a while and as I was biting my nails staring at the 'loading' sign on the screen when someone in the audience bites into his wafers with a loud CRUNCH. It was the most distracting sound at the wrong time. My laptop was back on track on time and the show was good. The sound of wafers still resounds in my ears and I also learnt a new thing about Gujaratis- food stops for nothing☺
Your favourite director/actor/music or set designer...
Actors - Rajit Kapur and Shernaz Patel.
Life in the theatre without the humble batata-wada or the cutting chai... or can you recall the best gastronomic experience you've had in the precincts of the theatre to date?
Cold coffee at the Experimental Theatre, NCPA. Every day during the 'Short + Sweet' festival in August 2012, I used to gulp down 4 to 5 glasses.
Priyanshu Painyuli
Which is the last best play you saw and why?
