Writer, stage director, actor, TV producer and anchor, Sohaila Kapur’s latest production “Ouch” captures the dream of young people to achieve name and fame as stars of highly popular TV shows. Their tedious road to would-be fame turns out a mirage. The exploration of wit, irony, pathos and suspense make the evening intensely engaging. What is most significant about the production is its telling comment on the pomp, glitter and hype associated with TV programmes such as reality shows. Unmasking the gloss of such shows, the production focuses on the seamy side in terms of humiliations, anguish and emotional outbreaks suffered by the participants.
The original play is written by Lutz Hubner in German. His plays have been translated into a dozen languages and performed in several countries. The original title of the play is “Creeps”. Sohaila has adapted it in English to reflect contemporary young Indian women with a burning desire to make it big as a television personality. She has Indianised the names of the characters who are provided with the right social milieu that shapes their consciousness.
There are three women characters — Jojo Juneja, Purnima Das and Meenu Vij. These characters are drawn from different milieus. Jojo comes from Mumbai, Purnima from Delhi and Meenu from a small town in Punjab. But there is one thing they have in common — the ambition to achieve celebrity status to get rid of their drab, routine life. Full of confidence about their chances of success in the competition, they have assembled in the studio of a TV channel for auditions. Considering other participants as rivals, they indulge in acrimonious debate, abusing each other. A stage comes when their tempers rise, resulting in physical fights. One of them becomes hysterical and another starts weeping. Their tantrums make them an object of ridicule.
It is a multi-media production. Upstage a huge screen is installed. The projection of images on the screen alternates with the live action on the stage which is set downstage to establish proximity with the audience.
The fourth character is the producer of the show who remains offstage throughout. Using the device of voice-over, the producer is constantly in touch with the contestants. He instructs them, asks uneasy questions, provokes them. His voice is loud, rough with shades of mockery. He seems to enjoy the plight of the young women. He instructs them to introduce themselves, narrate their hobbies. The participants sing, dance and act as an anchor, interviewing another contestant who acts as a guest. Physically exhausted, emotionally disturbed with their hopes shattered, their mutual hostility gives way to mutual understanding. The offstage voice seems to have the last laugh.
The production is aptly cast. Jyotsna Sharma as Meenu Vij, a young vivacious woman from a small town of Punjab, acts admirably, capturing the eccentricities and boldness of her character. Sonali Sharma as Jojo Juneja, a pretentious Mumbai-based young woman, and Aarti Sharda Nayar as Purnima Das, a sloppily sentimental young Delhiite, create convincing portraits of their characters. Neeraj Yadav as the invisible producer, using the right intonation, tends to become a catalyst to the dramatic action.
