Fitting times
Sometimes it takes a death to understand the simple things in life. Some Times , the closing play of this year’s MetroPlus Theatre Fest, brings this philosophy to the audience tellingly.
The play’s highlight was the ‘connect’ it established with all segments of the audience. Parental concerns, youth angst, and corporate culture — all touched upon with pithy dialogues, good stage effects and standout performances from the cast. The applause at the end of an emotional soliloquy, the last act of the play, confirmed the appreciation. Here is hoping that MetroPlus Theatre Fest brings such good plays to Kochi, every time.
Dr. Resmi Menon
Pananjickal Arcade
Edappally
Looking back in remorse
Paramjit Singh Duggal aka Pammi represents a gen-next stereotype — confused but ambitious, pleasure seeking but commitment-phobic, and utterly cavalier towards those who truly love him. Until he finally recognises the deep truth behind hackneyed clichés of love and relationships. He is privileged with hindsight, an excellent rear-view mirror that displays all the road signs lit up neon-bright in his face. But some times, it is much too late to reverse and take the right turn in life. With nuanced acting and a tight script, Some Times provided a fitting finale to The Hindu MetroPlus Theatre Fest 2013.
Archana Rao-D’Cruz
10C, Great Orchard,
The Orchard
Vidyanagar, Kochi – 682020
Well thought out
A great product from Akvarious Productions. This drama had the audience in splits most of the time. However, the serious message that was conveyed at the end was not lost on them despite the hilarious scenes which had the major share. A very contemporary theme treated in the most interesting manner with minimum backdrops and make-up, made it outstanding. It was easy for the audience to relate to the theme due to its contemporary nature and social significance. The lighting was extraordinary, every scene change was carried out with meticulous perfection and the team, which operated the lights, needs to be commended. Pammi needs that extra congrats for his extraordinary delivery of dialogues and expressions. Altogether it was a great show.
Thanks to MetroPlus for bringing this play to Kochi.
Suresh Kumar R
3-E, Lavender,
Skyline Riverdale
Thripunithra
The struggles of youth
S ome Times takes place in our homes. It reflects the inner conflicts in the minds of today's fragile youth, which come to surface when they mistake their own inability to understand themselves as others' inability to do so. Their escape to comfort zones (of drugs and relationships) is nicely portrayed. The best aspect of the play, of course, was the ease with which the play was able to make the audience feel for the characters like their own.
Sridip Nambiar
27/2154A,
Kadavanthra
Cochin - 682020
A stupendous achievement
The pressures and demands in a youngster’s life form the main theme of Akvarious productions’ Some Times which has dark undertones in a mélange of humour and emotions. The scenes shift with time with minimal variations in sets. The play, directed by Adhaar Khurana, catches in detail the personal and social relationships of Paramjit Singh Duggal aka Pammi, who aspires to be creative rather than take up his dad’s transport business. Demands from his girl friend and aggressive boss are many, and he finds some relief with drinks and weed with friends at night. He is a guy you have come across, and hence forces you to introspect about his plight. The dialogues, with dashes of Hindi and Punjabi, from an original script by Adhir Bhat and Bobby Nagra, were crisp and realistic. The protagonist played by Karan Pandit and the other actors fit their roles to the T. The night life was recreated with some subtle lighting. Some Times brings in the tragedy quickly and quietly, leaving a shock. It was a stupendous achievement in dramatic introspection.
Raghavendra Babu
Shivashakti,
Puthiyakavu P O,
Kochi
Bordering on surreal
S ome Times is well-crafted and thus easy to relate to. It focuses on the life of a twenty-something graduate, a wannabe copyrighter with a mean boss, an underrated yet lovable co-worker and fast advancing deadlines. The protagonist Paramjit Duggal’s justifiably nagging girlfriend executes the role effortlessly and makes you almost want to scream at him. To add to his burdens, he has typical Punjabi parents, executed so well that you personally feel like explaining Pammi’s point of view to them over a chilled glass of lassi .
Among the gems that make up Pammi’s psychotropic substance-influenced conversation with his buddies is the ‘Daddy Song’, which is sung very religiously, to roars of laughter from the audience. Complete with a strong plot, good dialogues, effective humour and quality acting, this play is the perfect mix of realism and surrealism. The message is strong and effective, and reaches the audience like a well aimed arrow.
Nikita Anand
Katari Bagh
Naval Base
