THE LAST INNINGS, is a play with four stories titled GINI, U-TURN, GANDH and BHINDI. The titles are very catchy and so are the respective stories. It's a play about the lives of the elderly, the gaps between them and the younger generation, the challenges faced by them and the ways they cope with technology, loneliness or with the new people entering in their respective lives.
All the stories are different in intensity, with a variety of regional accents, languages and characters. GINI is about an old man dealing with loneliness and his attachment to technology after his son goes abroad. It reminded me of the film Her where the man falls in love with the machine. U-TURN is about a genius and as to what an old man would want to tell his younger self if he could take a u-turn. GANDH, the most intense story, is about the journey of three women into an old age home and their survival in the new environment. BHINDI, the last one is a much lighter act and ends on a happy note with the two elderly people finding companionship.
Some artistes had great presence on stage. Some looked a bit stiff. Most of the artistes who played the role of the elderly did a great job. Especially in the third act GANDH, where all the performers were quite intense and shared a good chemistry. The script had some great moments. In the first act, the audience enjoyed the fight sequence the most. The second act had a great twist.The third act really moved the audience. The last act was light and had fun moments.
At two hours the play seems a bit lengthy. The writing could have been more crisp. Some scenes felt like they were dragged.
Also, the play started a bit late. The theatre audience expects a play to be on time.
The music was decent. Set design is expected to improve in the future plays.
The director of this play, Debanshu Shekhar, is an acting coach at Rangshila and is from Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI). Kudos to Rangshila for taking up a subject that makes one more compassionate to the problems of the older generation. They have also succeeded in giving a platform to so many young performers.
*Diiva Dhanoya is a Mumbai-based writer, actor and voice artiste. She is the lead actress of the film Jacqueline I am Coming and is currently working on translating a book by John Britton.
