Rohan Joshi and Vaishali Bisht in the play | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Some things stand the test of time, like Faraz Khan’s adaptation of Dario Fo’s novel. Open doubles. The play, which stars theatre personality Vaishali Bisht as the lead character Antonia, was first staged in Hyderabad in 2014, with Anuj Gurwara playing the role of ‘Purusha’. The play, which takes a satirical look at marriage and relationships, is being staged again this weekend, also starring Vaishali and Rohan Joshi.
Wit and humor
Faraz Khan | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
“We were missing the laughter,” says Faraz about the reasons for reviving the play after seven years. Written by Dario Fo and his wife Franca Rame and translated into English by Stuart Hood, the Italian play explores the complexities of modern-day relationships.
Vaishali Bisht – Antonia | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Faraz wasn’t keen to bring it back until this year when his company La Company Dramatic Selected for Manch, an initiative of Bengaluru-based Bhasha Kendra, which facilitates a production company to stage around 25 shows of a play in a year, to understand the ups and downs in terms of performance and economics.
Apart from Anuj, Bhavin Patel also played the role of Man in a few shows in 2017. “We knew the production company would be busy staging the show in different places every six weeks, so we double-casted,” says Faraz. Vaishali retains the role of Antonia, Gaurav Sajjanhar (who acted in the first staged show in Mumbai) plays the role of Man and Rohan plays the role of Man. “When I directed the play in 2014, I was in my 30s and now I am in my 40s, it is still hilarious,” laughs Faraz and adds, “This play is a reminder that there is no joy left in it.”
Performing in front of a home crowd
“I’m on my fourth Man,” says Vaishali Bisht, referring to the change in the actors playing the Man. “Each one of them has brought out a different Antonia (Vaishali’s character) with a slightly different subtlety. Even in terms of the audience, the conversation about relationships has changed.” The theatre actor and director is having more fun this time around as she is quite grounded in the character and more playful. She had produced and acted in the play when it was staged in 2014. Are there any challenges in playing the role again? “Expressing the different changes physically,” she says.
Performing in Hyderabad, his home turf, brings a little pressure as his production here was nominated for five META (Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards) in 2014. Expectations are bound to be high. “We are the only production from Hyderabad to be nominated for META.” The play also involves audience interaction. “My co-actors are different and the audience, their reactions and interactions are also different.”
Scene from the play | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The production staged in 2014 was largely fraught with Art Comedy (a 15th-century Italian theatrical form) in which the scene appears to be a ‘controlled accident’, a chaos, but with a design element to it. Since then the drama has evolved and the acting looks more like choreography.
New medium
Compared to Vaishali and Faraz Khan, Rohan Joshi who plays the role of ‘Man’ is new to the world of theatre. “Every day is a new learning experience for me,” says the comedian. “There are new rules to learn as the medium has completely changed. I am very excited to be a part of this show and am having a lot of fun.”
Dario Fo’s ‘The Open Couple’, presented by Bhasha Kendra, September 26, 27 and 28 at Rangabhoomi Spaces & Events at 8 pm; Tickets: insider.in
Published – September 25, 2024 04:32 PM IST
