The Company Theatre will present Eugene Ionesco�s THE CHAIRS at Prithvi Theatre.

Synopsis:
Two old people, isolated in a circular building surrounded by water, pass their empty days remembering a past populated by imaginary people. The Chairs fills the theatre with wall-to-wall laughter. The play works because the two actors perform, backed by an invisible supporting cast whose presence they all-but make us see.

This production of The Company Theatre is turned into an uproarious vaudeville routine. At the end, a stab of poignancy pierces the fun, when the characters called the Old Man and Old Woman feel that their meaningless lives have been transformed at last. The play's hilarious centerpiece is an explosive scene that recalls the Marx Brothers and their increasingly crowded stateroom. Here, of course, the new arrivals are unseen, but that doesn't prevent the two harried hosts from bustling about in mounting frenzy.

The woman (helped by a directorial device that's like pushing a fast-forward button) rushes out one door and back through another in the same instant, carrying on more and more chairs. Ultimately, with the arrival of a puppet-like Orator, we see that the messenger is as incoherent as the message.

Director�s Note:
This modern classic by Ionesco seems as valid for me today as it was when I first read it in my beginning years of theatre in Delhi. It is surprising that the play still evokes my imagination, reminds me of my own �lost city of lights�, makes obvious the futility of word and communication through language, and finally brings calm through chaos. It also is very exciting to explore this play through extreme physical energy and investment of body and soul by our actors. I still get extremely moved by the play as much as I enjoy it for its comic.

Actors:
Namit Das, Ayesha Raza, Rachel D�Souza, Suhaas Ahuja.

Language:
Hindi & English.

Duration:
70 minutes (Without Interval).

Director:
Atul Kumar.

Hindi Translator:
Atul Kumar.

Dates & Time:
April 13th Friday at 9 pm in English.
April 14th Saturday at 6 & 9 pm in English.
April 15th Sunday at 6 & 9 pm in Hindi.

*The above information is courtesy The Company Theatre. Mumbai Theatre Guide takes no responsibility for change in schedule.