When three men meet at a park, one would assume mundane everyday conversations would follow. But what ensues is an engrossing comedy that promises to leave theatre lovers thinking. Directed by Nimi Ravindran and performed by Ashish D’Abreo, Deepak Subramanya and Jimmy Xavier, award-winning actor, playwright and director Manav Kaul’s Park, deals with Urban Migration, which seem even more relevant today. The play set in a park with three benches that become a point of contention between three men is written by Manav Kaul and raises many interesting questions.
Nimi shares, “I had earlier directed another play written by Manav, Shakkar ke Paanch Daane. I did the English version. When I read Park, I found it very relevant to what we, in Bengaluru, were going through. People from across the city come to work here. This entire insider/outsider debate is an ongoing thing, so that makes Park very relevant to our times. It was very relevant to our city and times. Who is an outsider? Why does someone feel like an outsider in a city? These were the questions on my mind. Where do we really belong? These are the questions Park asks. What really works for me is that it’s not a work of anger or angst. It’s very funny and poignant as a comedy. It’s a play about three men fighting over a park bench, making it a tad silly and childish. And then the bigger stories start tumbling out. Who are these three men and what are their stories? How do we identify with these men and their stories?”
Talking of the challenges, the director adds, “The play was originally written in Hindi, making the translation our own was a challenge. Also we’ve reinterpreted things to make it more relevant to our lives. It has elements of complete absurdity mixed with a full dose of realism. It’s a crazy combination. Some things are so real, and others nonsensical. Everyone who has watched it has loved it; some love the music and the movement, but everyone seems to relate to the characters and it goes without saying that the comedy is a big hit.”
Entrepreneur and actor Ashish D’Abreo, who has worked in over 20 productions as an actor claims that playing the role of an old man was challenging. “I’m one of the three people looking for their space in this park. I come with my own set of worries about my son who hasn’t passed his exam and am hoping he will make it this time. I’m struggling for my own space on the bench. It’s a well-written play and it’s fun to see how the author brings fun and light in mundane surroundings,” says Ashish.
Radio jockey Jimmy Xavier who has done several stage shows reveals, “I come to the park every day for a reason that’s very dear to me. There are three benches and that day someone else is sitting in my place. It’s getting in the way of why I’ve come. There’s a tussle, and I try many ways to get him off the bench. There is a third person who’s trying to sleep on another bench, and he gets drawn in, and the situation spirals. There are many things and situations that arise between people and how people throw random things and bring about all kinds of arguments to win a fight. You realise later that everyone had their own motivation which was very real.” The third person is Deepak Subramanya who loves to explore the myriad fabric of human relationships through the lens of art and has worked in two Sandalwood movies.
Watch the play on January 21 at Jus’ Trufs, Jakkur and on January 22 at Atelier, Sarjapur.
