Things to do before ‘I do’

It’s never too late to mend relationships—this thought doesn’t strike the protagonist of the play Some Girl(s) till he is about to get married. All jittery,he calls up his old girlfriends and tries to amend his wrongdoings. This takes him to four Indian cities and as many former girlfriends while the audience has a rollicking time.

“The comedy by American playwright Neil LaBute is a very contemporary take on relationships while maintaining an irreverent tone,” says Nadir Khan,who is directing this play. If this doesn’t sound interesting for theatre-goers,the cast would. VJ Juhi Pande and TV host Tarana Raja Kapoor make their stage debut alongside familiar theatre faces like Radhika Mital,Shivani Tanksale and Mukul Chadda. The four actresses lend their distinct charm and personality to the play as the story unfolds in an episodic manner. For Chadda,the challenge is to deal with four different situations. “However,understanding the character I play was an interesting task,” he says. The play is Q Theatre Productions’ second offering this year after Project S.T.R.I.P. It premieres at NCPA Experimental Theatre on Saturday. In October,it will travel to Prithvi Theatre for a four-day run.

Quasar Padamsee,one of the producers,says,“It’s quite an amazing balance we have managed to achieve. Shivani and Radhika are veterans of comedy,while Mukul is wonderful as the ‘offending’ man. But we were really surprised at the ease with which both Tarana and Juhi took to theatre.” Pande,however,professes that she was always drawn to stage. “Last year,I had told Quasar that I would like to work with them. Since right now I don’t have shootings scheduled,it worked out fine for me,” she says.

Khan,a fan of LaBute’s work,picked up this play,which has many light-hearted moments,because “its premise is very identifiable”. However,it required Akarsh Khurana to step in and adapt the play for an Indian audience. “We have made very minor changes. Basically,to do with geographical references since the story of Some Girl(s) travels to four American cities,” says the director,who has earlier directed Noises Off and Beyond Therapy.