Oscar Wilde once said that theatre was one of the greatest of all art forms as it was the most immediate way in which a human being could share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being. And the tenth edition of The Hindu Metroplus Theatre Fest is poised to prove him right. From the torment and darkness of a Macbeth to the sheer hilarity afforded by commedia dell’arte sketches, from a commentary on contemporary Indian society to tracing the life of one of her most famous sons, Rabindranath Tagore, from an exploration of sexual identity to a rib-tickling play-within-a-play, each of the six plays to be showcased at the festival will touch you, make you laugh, force you to think and leave you hungering for more.
Curtains go up in Chennai on August 15, so take the cue and come, take part in the drama.
>Buy tickets for MPTF 2014 Chennai here.
August 15 – Macbeth
(Chorus Repertory Theatre, Manipur)
(For mature audiences)
First up is Macbeth, by Manipur’s world-famous Chorus Repertory Theatre. Director Ratan Thiyam’s Macbeth is far more than a brave man whose ambition sends him spiralling down a blood-soaked, guilt-paved path of no return. He is interpreted as the product of a diseased mind that allows unlimited desire, greed and violence to fester before erupting into violence and viciousness that eventually destroys mankind.
August 16 – It’s Not Waht You Tihnk!
(Cartel, Mumbai)
(15 years and above)
It’s Not Waht You Tihnk! by Cartel uses the Italian commedia dell’arte form to present a series of rib-tickling sketches from everyday Indian society. Three actors slip on fabulous masks to metamorphose into 17 absolutely different characters — from sassy servants and young lovers to greedy old men and unreliable witnesses. The frenzied performance is sure to knock the audience off its seats with laughter.
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August 17 – Beyond Binary
(Performance Group Tuida, Korea/India)
(For mature audiences)
Beyond Binary by Performance Group Tuida is an Indo-Korean collaboration that was developed after a series of workshops and in-depth interviews in both countries. It explores sexual orientation and identity, drawing inspiration from Indian mythology. Using traditional and modern performance traditions and exploring the relationship between dance and theatrical movement, the play looks at sexual and romantic love through prisms that go beyond mere dichotomous definitions.
August 22 – Boiled Beans on Toast
(The Primetime Theatre Co, Mumbai)
(15 years and above)
Next up is Boiled Beans on Toast, a play by Mumbai’s Primetime Theatre Company that’s set in contemporary Bangalore. Written by Girish Karnad, it beautifully captures the chaos of urban life, with characters ranging from a lonely housewife, a small-town job-seeker, a conservative old lady, and a village woman. Director Lillete Dubey brings out the subtle nuances of Karnad’s work and refers to it as a mirror of our times laced with warmth and humour.
August 23 – Colour Blind
(aRANYA, Mumbai)
(12 years and above)
Who was the real Rabindranath Tagore? Unearthing the man behind the persona, throwing light on his conflicted youth, his personal struggles, his myriad aspirations and his love for Argentinean writer Victoria O Campo whom he discovers in his autumn years — this is what aRANYA’s Colour Blind, directed by the renowned Manav Kaul, is about.
August 24 – Noises Off
(The Company Theatre, Mumbai)
(For mature audiences)
The Fest will wrap up with the boisterous comedy Noises Out, brought to you by The Company Theatre. A misplaced director and his team of mediocre actors attempt to enact a sex comedy. It leads to disaster, of course. Tempers are frayed, relationships crumble, people get injured, lines are forgotten and attempts to save the show go horribly wrong. This play-within-a-play directed by Atul Kumar promises an evening of laughs.
Time: 7.30 p.m.
Venue: Sir Venkata Subba Rao Concert Hall, Lady Andal School
Tickets
Rs. 600, Rs. 350 and Rs. 200. Season tickets at Rs. 3,000 and Rs.1,750.
>Tickets for all shows can be purchased online here.
Tickets are also available at Starmark Book Store, Express Avenue; Fruit Shop on Greams Road outlet (Cathedral Road, Greams Road, Anna Nagar, Besant Nagar); The Hindu Office, Anna Salai; and at the venue (between 10 a.m and 6 p.m.) from August 1.
Helpline number
72999 11222
SPONSORS
Title Sponsor: Bose
Associate Sponsors: Tata Value Homes, Ibaco, Miot Hospitals, Nippon Paint
Hospitality Sponsor: The Park, Chennai
Event Manager: LIVE From EVAM
>See the full MPTF 2014 schedule here
Log on to >www.thehindu.com/theatrefest
Twitter:>@TheHinduTheatre
Facebook:>MetroPlus Theatre Fest 2014
