Lapses of lingy…

Saw Macbeth on Saturday directed by Alyque Padamsee. I haven’t studied Shakespeare but something tells me certain aspects of the production weren’t up to the mark. But first the pros.

Rich sets, sound, lighting and costumes. Tarun Tahiliani apparently provided the designs, and the excution was pretty good too.

In terms of lighting and sound, the effect was quite spectacualar right from the muffled sounds of the witches (very grotesque looking things) to the video display on a transparent screen behind which the actors were enacting a scene. This mix was very effective in adding drama to more intense moments and scenes like battle, murder, hallucination.

Lushin Dubey played Lady Macbeth. I thought she was very intense and did justice to the role…however at some points she seemed over-the-top – I think that’s how the director interpreted it. Her character is manipulative, BUT psychotic — am not sure about that. Eventually LM does disintigrate into a hopeless case of regrets and fear post masterminding cold-blooded murder. But before the actual murder takes place, a little more toning down could make her beleivable. Of course, I could be wrong.

The old chap (a veteren theatre actor) who played Macbeth was intense too…but his dialogue delivery seemed a bit garbled. Not all of us mere mortals are initiated into the world of Shakespeare, so a wee bit of clarity of speech would help.

The chap who palys Macduff needs to infuse feeling into his performance, especially when he is struck down by tragedy– like when he gets the news of his son and wife being slain or when he gets his revenge and proceeds to parade the murderer’s severed head on a stick. Having said that I must also add that off-stage this chap seems umm…interesting’.

And the witches…off with their masks. We’d like to see real expressions, because I’m sure they’d be damn good. Karla Singh would make a great witch am sure –she’s seems so dramatic all the time (and I mean that in a contructive way).  

I had earlier seen Sabira Merchant in a play a long time back. She played an old, fastidious sort of woman…she was really good. Her performance was a wee bit dissappointing in Macbeth. She doesn’t have too many lines but one of the scenes is very powerful, or rather has the potential to be.

Like-wise with the rest of the cast…more intensity and feeling I say. The true test of any production is the impact it could leave on you even when stripped off all the icing — lights, sound, props and robes.

What you have left with are the actors whose now-naked performance should make you weep, laugh, provoke you to think or make you detest humanity, if need be.

You have a talented cast, great icing. A more layered interpretation of the characters, more intensity in the perfamance – emphasis on these two aspects should do the trick, I think.

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The buses are on strike.

No water for the next two days.

What’s going on with this country?

And with no warning. We get to know about the water shortage about a day before.

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While those who feed us commit suicide in various parts of the country — the moral police decides to impose a fine of Rs 500 for couples who dare to kiss in public in New Delhi.

Every morning I open to the papers and read about a farmer hanging himself from a tree or jumping off a roof, because he is in debt.

It really hurts to know that authorities have their priorities all wrong.

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Yesterday a friend and I got talking about the finer nuances of finding love in a fast-paced metropolis.

She confided a couple of things about herself, which really surprised me. Now, this woman is attractive, successful, articulate, confident and even compassionate. She has a strong sense of ‘presence’, which either impresses or intimidates.

She says she’s hopeless with men she’s attracted to, though. The moment she realises that she is attracted, she either behaves like a blabbering idiot, uttering the most unintelligent things ever. But this possibility is very remote, as it risks her being viewed as an idiot.

The safer approach is to turn into the ice queen, spewing witty lines and displaying a certain degree of coldness sometimes bordering on animosity. This of course dashes ALL  all hopes of a potential romance, as the poor mere mortal moves on or thinks she’s plain weird.

Romances these days often stem from baby steps on either side. The days of wooing and chasing are somewhat over, with a few exceptions.  

I wonder if it is because she is a control freak? Or is it a fear of rejection? How can she break out of this mould? I really didn’t know what to say to her. But she seems to want to improve and be more balanced in her approach to relationships.

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Fashion weeks I suppose can motivate the most complacent us to resurrect our inner style divas. The weekend whizzed past at record speed, and yup I did go on that tedious shopping expedition. Apparently, they do make vaguely stylish clothes in not-so-miniscule sizes, these days. 

Other than that, it’s refreshing to see a celebrity hollering for a cause in such a non-political sort of way. I’m talking about Aamir Khan. Sure, he’s directed and starred in Coke ads, but then all of us are mere mortals who get caught in a tug-of-war between commerce and conscience. Let’s give this dude a break. He’s always been a bit of a recluse when it comes to talking to the media, and now when he finally does it, it’s by gunning for a cause. I wish more celebs would come forward and speak up, without mincing words. 

Other than that saw Munich. I thought it was a wee bit ‘filmy’. All the characters are dressed a la 007 and spew witty lines. As for Eric Bana, it’s really quite difficult to take one’s eye off the man. He’s lissome, tall and moves like a dancer. Besides, the whole tortured soul act is rather endearing in a man.

Also saw this Oddissi recital where traditional Oddissi was choreographed to Bollywood music, both new and old. The interpretation did involve adding ‘free movement’ to make the twain meet. Many of the dancers were amatuers and did a pretty good job. The leader of the dance troupe Jhelum is very agile and expressive, off-stage too. And her pupil Ankur this chap who is slightly deaf, dances like a dream. He’s got such perfect body language and presence on stage. Energy, expression and all the elements that turn a dance recital into a moving performance by a true artist.

In fits and starts it seemed like a school production, a wee bit repetitive at times. But overall, a success in terms of making Oddissi more accessible to us who are not initiated into this dance form. I wish they’d doo the same for a capella here in Mumbai, but often people who embrace any sort of classical art form are so snooty about it, they refuse to make to even a wee bit more accessible. I think they simply bask in the fact that they patronise something so niche.

Saw Madonna on Parkinson’s and the woman’s intelligence simple shone. My roommate started jumping around like a kangaroo when Madonna said something to the effect of ’ I liked moving to New York because it has a place for oddballs like me who don’t think conventionally’.

Mumbai is alot like New York in terms of its spirit. Just more congested, polluted and crowded. But there are quite a few oddballs and so one can co-exist beautifully amongst fellow-oddballs.

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Am back from Delhi post the fashion and the first thing I wanted to do post getting back is — GO SHOPPING.

Delhi’s people dress up and I felt all shoddy is my 5-year-old favourite jurta and denims.

Shopping for clothes is not something I relish in the least — us pleasantly plump types have a wee bit more trouble finding the right fit — especially since most clothes in bigger sizes resemble bedsheets, blankets ‘n’ sacks.

So a shopping expedition is on the cards, not an exciting proposition in the circumstances.

But other than that Delhi was GREAT. Just the thought of being on an outdoor assignment is thrilling. You don’t need to edit anyone else’s bad copy, you get to meet different weird, interesting people and life feels like an vast, open canvas with so much to explore.

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The past week for me has been fantastic. Was covering the fashion week in Mumbai.

Also, launched a fashion blog.

Heading for Delhi tomorrow for the fashion week in Delhi.

So more sleepless nights, fashion fever, wardrobe malfunctions and more. The best thing about the whole experience was learning about the business of fashion.

Why models need to be like skinny lil’ things. How wardrobe functions are bad for a designer’s career, etc etc etc

On the personal front, woke up with feeling like as if I had been run over by a tractor after one week of thankless reporting.  Thank goodness for my bai (the househelp) who’s a part-time masseuse and also teaches yoga, in her spare time.

Also, do watch the Sammy if you get a chance. This play directed by Lilette Dubey traces Gandhiji’s journey from South Africa to India. In those days white South Africans reffered to the Indians as Sammys. That’s cause all the Indians were mostly from south India and their surnames ended with the word Swamy — Ramaswamy, etc etc. Swamy was unpronouncable, so it became Sammy.

Gandhi was honoured to be called Sammy — because Swamy means master or teacher. Eventually many South Africans and even those in positions of power who wanted to impose laws that discriminated against Indians, came to respect Gandhi because his ideas, words and actions had the power to changed the very fabric of one’s thought processes.

There’s nothing preachy about the play. It has dialogues which are simple, funny and profound simultaneously. Quite a few times I had tears in my eyes.

I went up to Lillete Dubey post the play, and thanked her from bringing it to life, so the young generation can use the same principles to find truth within themselves.

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