Gulzaar Theatre Fiesta 2015 - ARRE O’ HENRY

Gulzar casts a spell right at the outset by giving the title of 'Arrey O Henry'. He Indianises four lesser known stories and keeps the viewers tethered to their seats right through the awesome foursome - The Exact Science of Matrimony as Shadi Kara Lo, The Love Philtre of Ikey Schoenstein as Nuskha, While The Auto Waits as Madam and The Barber Talks as Baal Baal Bache. Equally popular for their humour as well as their startling ends, Gulzar distills the very essence of O Henry's creations most proficiently through this quartet of plays. The play opens with 'Shaadi Kara Lo', in which two out-of-work roommates in Mumbai, always at a look out to make a quick buck and open a marriage bureau and charge an entrance fee for every applicant with a promise to get him married to a wealthy, good looking widow, who happens to be their late friend's wife. The end is funny as well as surprising. The second story 'Nuskha' is about a strict retired military officer and his lovely daughter who is in love with a theatre actor. Her father is opposed to this match, as is their paying guest who is also secretly in love with the officer's daughter. To win the fair lady's hand a battle of wits takes place between the two suitors. Followed by 'Madam' in which a maid poses as a rich lady with delicate grace. The frustrated maid to an actress, apes her mistress - wearing her dresses, shoes and mannerisms to perfection. Is she caught at her act of deception? Watch the play to find out.
The concluding piece 'Bal Bal Bache' is hilarious. It has a barber palming off spurious hair vitalizers to hopeful bald men! How does one of the barber's victims get even with him? Ah, that's a witty tale.
Gulzar's dialogue is simple and effective, very competently delivered by the entire cast - conjuring up the right mood and atmosphere. The stories have been so well adapted to the local culture that they feel rooted to the soil, and therefore very convincing. The play is a fitting tribute to O’Henry’s genius.
 
 
On stage –
Vrajesh Hirjee, Bakul Thakkar, Amit Jairath, Yassir Khan, Akriti Singh, Neetu Pandey and Lubna Salim.
Scripted, Designed and Directed by Salim Arif Produced by Lubna Salim Duration 90 minutes Essay Communications, Mumbai Production