Stage for Four

Salim Arif’s Essay Communications will be staging four of their plays at the Prithvi Theatre from April 16 to 19. Manto Mantra,a play that portrays the life and times of Saadat Hasan Manto,the celebrated author,will be staged on day one. The play strings together a series of pieces,called Hatak,Kali Salwar,Nangi Awaazein,Mohammedbhai,Akhri Salute and Khol Do,which sees Manto himself as the narrator,talking about his recurring subjects of prostitutes and pre-partition Bombay. O Henry’s four lesser known short stories are adapted for the stage and Indianised by Gulzar as Arre O Henry.

The play will be staged on April 17 at 6 pm and 9pm. Another play written by Gulzar,a dramatised and abridged Hindustani version of the Ramayana,will be staged on April 18. Javed Siddiqi’s Hum Safar,that revolves around urban alienation,and features actors Harsh Chhaya and Lubna Salim,will be shown on the final day.