Men who seduce other people’s wives, mistresses who bicker about every penny, and women who get their own way....The characters might have been created in the head of a 19th century writer, but they seem familiar even today! The audience at On The Go watch three adaptations of short stories of Anton Chekov into plays by Neil Simon, at the Supper Theatre presented by Coimbatore Art and Theatrical Society (CATS). The evening is sponsored by Viswa and Devji.
“I am the greatest seducer of other men’s wives!” The first play of the evening The Seduction begins with this declaration by a young man. He devises strategies to seduce his friend’s gorgeous wife. He shares those tips earnestly with the audience! K. V. Siddhartha keeps everyone in splits as the boring and unromantic husband who is completely ignorant to the fact that his wife is infatuated with his friend. Sushil Jacob is every inch the devious and charming bachelor. Chanda Khaturia is the wife -turned passionate lover.
In The Governess , a stingy mistress keeps inventing reasons why she is deducting money from the governess’ salary and finally offers her a measly sum. Our hearts go out to the young governess, who is too frightened to raise her voice against this injustice. Ambuja Sankar plays her part convincingly as the cold and shrewd mistress, and Lakshmishree is endearing as the nervous governess.
The final play is A defenseless creature in which a woman drives a bank manager mad. Her husband is fired from his job and is in desperate need for money. She is initially refused any kind of financial assistance. However, she nags the bank manager so much that he has to give in! She threatens the manager saying she would turn the gold coins in the bank into potatoes and onions, if he did not give her the money. Shawn Nigli is the exasperated bank employer, and Monisha Mathur the determined woman. The final scene has the manager bellowing, “Give her the money and get her out of here!”
Special mention should be given for costumes and stage design by Pheroza and Shilpi Mathur. From the wine bottles and plush chairs to even the pretty pink combs and mirror, the props recreate a 19th century Russia. The costumes were elegant.
The evening comes to a close as the actors and audience have a lively chat over a fare of cheese and corn bruschettas, quesadillas, vegetable rolls, potato fries, walnut cakes, served by On The Go.
