I have not seen many plays in my life except for a brief brush with Marathi theater or Parsi dramas in my late teens. Prithvi theater in Juhu was frequented for different reasons. There is something about plays that I don't like - maybe its a yoke of yore that we can't get rid of, maybe I am too much of a tv or movie buff , maybe it's the economics- I paid sgd 50 for an enactment of a French play by Indian actors when the original is available for free on Vimeo and turns out much better or maybe it's the over dependence on actors who behave snooty.
I would rather watch Sivaji Ganesan if I want something theatrical.
So here I went to jubilee hall of the famous Raffles hotel where Singapore's pseud brigade had turned out in full form dressed to maim if not kill. I carried 2 books in my hand to feel reasonably dignified - after all I was just helping my friend to fill seats and had no real interest In watching Suhel Seth, Amit Tandon and Mansukhani enact ART a Tony award winning play. In an obstruse way I felt like a patron, even art needs me or more importantly - my money -a kings ransom that would have bought me 5 movie tickets. Pity those kings who wrote these checks for someone's fillets of fancy.
Enough said, well the play is about 3 friends whose friendship is atrophying especially when Barge goes and buy a white painting with just 3 grooved lines on it for 200k francs. Mark who has an opinion on everything thinks its sh**. Ivan who is basically chicken hearted tries to pacify them when he really is struggling with the pangs of his impending marriage. The beauty of the play lies in its canvass and the white painting actually embodies that.
The first few scenes show how Mark thinks that barge is being pretentious and perhaps deriding Marks lack of appreciation as negativity that has turned chronic. Liked the dialogues around this. This exchange is broken by Iwan's domestic travails - loved the long session at the middle of the play where he describes his phone call with his mother. The bickering continues with friends taking potshots at each others achievements, taste and wives. Finally Sarge gives Mark a felt tip pen to add color to the painting . The climax was badly enacted and never made the impact. I watched the play partly on Vimeo and realized that MrTandon is the main spoiler. His acting is monochromatic like the painting he bought. Suhel Seth runs out of steam like a one- day batsman after the power play. Mansukhani is fun.
The choice of the play bewilders me. In a sitcom infested this play seems as insignificant as a painting in Rachels apartment that you won't notice unless forced to.
The play relies heavily on antics and emphasizing certain words like deconstruction to deliver its message. I understand that the painting in its lack of color is a metaphor for the lives the friends lead. But the lack of contemporary components and depth cripple the play like a lunch that has the crunchiness of a rocket salad but not the substance of a main course.
It reminds me of an incident my punju friend bought a painting from jahangir art gallery at a discount to adorn his new home. That's a real dilettante and we had fun trying to understand the painting over drinks. Opinions ranged from garish to tasteless to arresting . That was still
two hours better spent than this play.
An enactment of an award winning play by 3 indian actors sponsored by Bikanerwala and SETmax. We seriously need fresh thoughts in Singapore.
See you at the movies mate,
I would rather watch Sivaji Ganesan if I want something theatrical.
So here I went to jubilee hall of the famous Raffles hotel where Singapore's pseud brigade had turned out in full form dressed to maim if not kill. I carried 2 books in my hand to feel reasonably dignified - after all I was just helping my friend to fill seats and had no real interest In watching Suhel Seth, Amit Tandon and Mansukhani enact ART a Tony award winning play. In an obstruse way I felt like a patron, even art needs me or more importantly - my money -a kings ransom that would have bought me 5 movie tickets. Pity those kings who wrote these checks for someone's fillets of fancy.
Enough said, well the play is about 3 friends whose friendship is atrophying especially when Barge goes and buy a white painting with just 3 grooved lines on it for 200k francs. Mark who has an opinion on everything thinks its sh**. Ivan who is basically chicken hearted tries to pacify them when he really is struggling with the pangs of his impending marriage. The beauty of the play lies in its canvass and the white painting actually embodies that.
The first few scenes show how Mark thinks that barge is being pretentious and perhaps deriding Marks lack of appreciation as negativity that has turned chronic. Liked the dialogues around this. This exchange is broken by Iwan's domestic travails - loved the long session at the middle of the play where he describes his phone call with his mother. The bickering continues with friends taking potshots at each others achievements, taste and wives. Finally Sarge gives Mark a felt tip pen to add color to the painting . The climax was badly enacted and never made the impact. I watched the play partly on Vimeo and realized that MrTandon is the main spoiler. His acting is monochromatic like the painting he bought. Suhel Seth runs out of steam like a one- day batsman after the power play. Mansukhani is fun.
The choice of the play bewilders me. In a sitcom infested this play seems as insignificant as a painting in Rachels apartment that you won't notice unless forced to.
The play relies heavily on antics and emphasizing certain words like deconstruction to deliver its message. I understand that the painting in its lack of color is a metaphor for the lives the friends lead. But the lack of contemporary components and depth cripple the play like a lunch that has the crunchiness of a rocket salad but not the substance of a main course.
It reminds me of an incident my punju friend bought a painting from jahangir art gallery at a discount to adorn his new home. That's a real dilettante and we had fun trying to understand the painting over drinks. Opinions ranged from garish to tasteless to arresting . That was still
two hours better spent than this play.
An enactment of an award winning play by 3 indian actors sponsored by Bikanerwala and SETmax. We seriously need fresh thoughts in Singapore.
See you at the movies mate,
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