Alligator, assassination, bedroom, elbow, eyeball, outcry. What could be common about these words and many more? The first reaction of a smart aleck could be that they are all found in the dictionary.
But a closer look and some research reveal that they are part of the prose used by a man of letters, 500 years down in history. An estimated 2,563 English phrases are attributed to him - ‘All’s well that ends well, ‘You too (Et tu) Brutus’, ‘Caesar’s wife shall be above board’ and many more. That’s about the Bard from Stratford-upon-Avon, as William Shakespeare is often referred to, a man who was born and baptised in 1564 and who wrote 37 plays and 154 sonnets. People swear his literature and plays touches so many aspects of human life, educate and entertain and reflect myriad emotions - joy and sorrow, love and hatred, betrayal and jealousy. In India, the 500th year celebrations of Shakespeare started on June 11 in Kolkata, followed by Delhi and Mumbai, to end on April 23, the day that is celebrated as the Bard’s.
After the three metros, it was the turn of the City of Pearls and its art and literature lovers to do their bit. The initiative was taken by Kartaal Productions and the duo - producer Seema Azharuddin and director K. Srikanth Iyengar (Dr. KSi) - gave art and theatre lovers a glimpse of Shakespeare. “It is a humble tribute to one who will continue to be part of our lives in so many ways,” Ms. Seema said.
She added that the backdrop was designed in the two-door style of Elizabethan and Tudor architecture, re-creating the 16th century ambience of the Globe Theatre built by Shakespeare himself in 1599. Ms. Seema played Portia in ‘The Merchant of Venice’ while Dr. KSi essayed the role of Shylock, as also that of Mark Antony in ‘Julius Caesar’ and that of a Hyderabadi publisher trying to trim the speech of Hamlet. The evening was devoted to drama and music by Bunty. Fusion music with the use of piano, violin, saxophone, veena and the flute added Indian flavour. The soiree (evening) was an assortment of famous comedies, tragedies and spoofs, acts, renditions and soliloquies in Telugu, Hyderabadi Deccani and Shakespearean English.
“It is very hard to find Shakespearean actors in India and to bring to life legendary theatre characters is a tough proposition. But attempt we should all, with all the passion for drama and life,” said Dr. KSi.
