Humour, pathos
I feel compelled to give expression to the feelings that went through my mind when I watched ‘One on One.' The humour, the pathos and sheer humanity of the play made for an unforgettable evening.
It's always a delight to watch Rajit kapoor. The way he presented the inedible airline food showed how a great actor can make such a mundane subject so memorable. The expression on his face at the end of the dialogue - a mixture of disgust , anger and what not - will remain in my mind forever. A simple idea put across with so much élan. The issue of legalisation of homosexuality is tackled with so much expertise. Another moment which left an impact is the dyslexic cousin of Kasab pouring out his feelings.
The lamp post talking to you was enacted so well by Anand Tiwari.
Abusha Zafar, Kochi.
Best Bargain
Eight stunning single acts, five masterful directors, six outstanding playwrights and some of India's finest actors – all for the price of one. Bargains don't get better than this. The acts touched upon all things Indians that we love to hate – politics, bureaucrats, high society, terrorism, homosexuality and airline food. While Rajit Kapur's versatility veered from the intense
political statement of “Kachre ki Hifazat” to the hilarious rant against inedible airline food in “Dear
Richard”, Anu Menon (immortalised as Lolakkutty) packed a powerful punch with a single appearance as the obtuse socialite in ‘Hello…check.' Nudging them for honours were Akash Khurana, Amit Mistry,
Anand Tiwari, Imran Adi, Neil Bhoopalam and Preetika Chawla, who never missed a beat as they tumbled onto the stage playing varied characters
Usage of minimal props ensured that all through the evening, the spotlight remained on the superlative narration and performances. Theatre doesn't get better than this.
Archana Rao-DCruz, Vidyanagar, Ernakulam
Politicians get it!
It is an unusual idea to personify a traffic signal which proceeds to lampoon the ways of our politicians, goondas, a shrine springing up in the middle of the road and dogs who piddle and poop without fear or favour - and Anand Tiwari made an expressive Marathi-speaking traffic signal. ‘Dear Richard', Rajit Kapur's anguished spoof on airline food had the audience in splits. Anu Menon aka Lolakutty in ‘Hello... Check' delighted the audience with her accent-perfect take-off of a socialite-cum-social worker but my favourite was the rich sketch of the dyslexic terrorist performed by Amit Mistry, whose only dream is to be a dancer on Nach Baliye! Constant allusions to the contemporary and topical made for instant relevance and audience-connect.
Talitha Mathew, Fort Kochi
Wholesome fun
From the bureaucrats to the terrorist, ‘One on One' was wholesome entertainment. The witty and spontaneous rendition enthralled us all. The script, pithy and humorous, was simply incredible. The lighting and sound invariably highlighted the subtle nuances of the play. The lamp post stands tall and the airline episode leaves you laughing hard.
The amusing yet thought provoking play leaves one doubting whether unfortunate incidents have been reduced to nothing more than ‘inspirations' for new fashion, film or for that matter, plays.
Anila Mathew V., Kaloor, Kochi
Of Indian society
Highly thought-provoking. The unconnected episodes, in addition to highlighting the title of the play, seem to explore various aspects of Indian society that perturb us. The use of unusual techniques, a colourful cast and a brilliant script made the play a joy to watch. The piling of articles from each scene after its culmination, on to a pole reminds one of the mounting problems the country faces. Rajat Kapoor's elaborate critique of airline food, Anu Menon's socialite farce and Amit Mistry's observations as a lamp post had us rolling in our seats. Ironic references to India varying from the lungi to Kasab and the urban divide, not only captured our attention but made the audience put on their thinking caps and take a hard look at what has been deemed as acceptable in India. ‘One on One' in short provided wholesome, didactic entertainment.
Tina Jose, Mullasseril House, Kottayam
Truly contemporary
‘One on one' was a collection of almost exclusively humorous monologues, rendered in a standup-comedy style. The themes extend delightfully across a spectrum of confessions - those of an Indian bureaucrat, a celebrity lamp-post, a failed terrorist, a dead Punjabi bodyguard, a socialite, a small-town couple and a homophobic yuppie. Rajit Kapur does not fail to evoke laughter with his Punjabi accent but he really takes the cake as an indignant airline passenger complaining about - you guessed it, airline food. The dialogue between the yuppie couple adds an eerie note to an otherwise lighthearted evening.
Subhash Gopalakrishnan, Vennala, Kochi
