Using the powerful tools of satire, comedy, and irony, Dr. Sayeed Alam’s Pierrot’s Troupe is all set to stage their new English production The Tale of Quarles, the Prince who Fails this coming Sunday. Retired bureaucrat Veena S. Rao’s maiden play draws from the mysterious ways of the British royalty to weave a fictional account about Fiona and Quarles, whose marriage breaks down because of the curse of Wally Sampson.
“The play is a fictionalised account of the real-life incident of Edward VIII who abdicated the throne on being refused permission to marry an American divorcee Wallis Simpson, and how it changed the succession completely. Using fictionalised characters, we introduced how Wally Sampson (Wallis Simpson) curses the royal family which haunts them and ties up the failed romances and follies in the household,” explains Alam.
New Delhi, 02/04/2011: Playwright Sayeed Alam in New Delhi on 02 April, 2011. Photo: V.V.Krishnan New Delhi, 02/04/2011: Playwright Sayeed Alam in New Delhi on 02 April, 2011. Photo: V.V.Krishnan
Thus, the heir apparent, Quarles breaks up with Fiona to marry Cornelia. “This essentially indirectly highlights how the religious institution, once stickler about rules of royal marriage changed them in present times,” observes Alam. “Had they being liberal in the past, things would have been different.”
Comedy and pathos
According to Alam, besides ironies such as these, what is bound to appeal to the audience are the elements of comedy and pathos present in the play. “The character of Fiona based on that of Lady Diana gives us insight into what she underwent in her life. Living a caged existence, she lost everything in her life, peace and happiness and eventually rebelled like no one else.” There is a parallel story too — of the butler and maid — which promises to be interesting. “The two signify how commoners, away from all the deceit and royal trappings, are honest to the core about their feelings and relationship. This provides a subaltern perspective of romance providing a break from the main narrative,” says Alam.
04dmc Veena S Rao
Veena, the playwright, says she was smitten by Diana and saddened by the disintegration of her marriage. “Otherwise too, royal marriages were in a bad shape. Queen’s sister, Princess Margaret not allowed to marry her lover, Anthony Armstrong Jones, divorced her husband Mark Phillip in 1978 as did Prince Andrew and Fergie separate in 1992. Seeming uncanny, it seemed like a curse and wanting to write a play around it, I thought the best way to present it would be through Shakespearean verses with witches and ghosts.” The play’s dialogues are in verse. “The communication being in rhyme is interesting and will engage the viewers. We had to work a lot on this aspect,” comments Alam.
Despite more than 25 years having passed since Diana’s death, Veena feels she continues to wield magic over people. “The tragedy of Diana’s marriage and death is still alive in the hearts and minds of people. This, and the fact that romance and splitting are part of our real life, are bound to strike a chord with the audience.”
The use of supernatural characters gives a major thrust to the tale. For instance, when the Queen wants to name her son as William, witches possess her, making her call him Quarles. The irony is that when she abdicates, instead of Quarles, his son William becomes the regent.
Incidentally, the direction of the play is credited to Tom Alter. On being asked the reason, Alam remarks, “He was in the process of staging, when he fell sick. He told me to complete and as a dear friend I was bound do it. For us, he is and will remain the director of the play.”
(To be staged at Shri Ram Centre, 7 p.m.)
