It's funny what theatre can do to you. After the two-hour play ‘All About Women' presented by Rage Productions, the audience walked out with a smile, celebrating the charm and wit of the female form. As for me, the play instantly transported me to my all-girls school. The bossy class leader, the timid bench mate and the fussy backbencher came rushing back.
Organised by the Coimbatore Round Table No. 9 and produced by Akvarious Productions, ‘All About Women' was a wonderful journey in to the lives of women.
The play has been written by Croatian author and playwright Miro Gavran. It starred Mumbai-based theatre artists Ratnabali Bhattacharjee, Prerna Chawla, Nimrat Kaur, Tahira Nath, Malaika Shenoy and Shivani Tanksale.
It was made up of five interwoven stories of the dreams, aspirations and the unexpressed desires of women.
A few minutes into the play, the stage, the lights and the audience all melted away. Only the actors on stage remained. They were like people who lived next door!
The story of three old ladies living in a retirement home sent the audience into a tizzy of laughter. Especially the bit where they put up a performance only because they will otherwise not get the rasagullas after lunch! The bickering 79-year-old with a walker was quite memorable too.
Now that Sophie, secretary of the managing director is dead, who will get the job next? Debbie, Greta or Steffi? The story of the secretaries and the ‘friendship' they share provided a peek in to the minds of women who want to go up the corporate ladder at any cost. The scene at Sophie's funeral where Debbie, Greta and Steffi feign grief was comical.
Not just the grown ups, the play also presented a day in the life of three kindergarteners.
It is their school day and the girls are excited about their performance on stage. But alas! One little girl's working mother doesn't turn up and there are tears on stage.
There were many such poignant moments. Two sisters make up after seven years of misunderstanding when they come home for their mother's birthday. The scene in which they together sing ‘happy birthday' for their mother was moving.
And, whether it was the headstrong woman, the doddering old one, or the grasping and avaricious ones, the play presented the unvarnished truth about women, warts and all.
Proceeds from the show will fund charitable activities of the Coimbatore Round Table No 9.
