Through August: Osage County,theater-lovers in Pune will have a chance to explore the dynamics of a dysfunctional family. Directed by Lillette Dubey,the play was staged at Ishanya Amphitheatre last night and will be back today at the same venue. Sandhya Mridul,Kitu Gidwani,Meeta Vashist,Amar Talwar,Suchitra Pillai and Ira Dubey feature in this post-modern take of an urban family in Goa. The original play,written by American playwright Tracy Letts,has won a series of accolades,including the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and a Tony Award in 2008. Its Broadway show closed in 2009 after 648 performances and 18 previews. In the play,Lillette Dubey plays Violet,the head of the family. "He drinks while I take pills" is how she summarises her role. It rediscovers the tsunami of undercurrents in relationships,conflicts,women power and a family in a state of near meltdown. Dubey has bought the all-India rights of the play which is originally set in Oklahama,United States. I did not want my actors to sound like Americans. Though Goa came to my mind randomly,the play could be set any where in the world, Dubey says. Dubey's husband is played by actor Denzil Smith,who is all praises for the critically-acclaimed play. The powerhouse cast has already breathed life into the dark comedy in five Indian cities. Vashist,who plays a sister to Mridul and Pillai,made an emotional connection with August: Osage County. "When Lillette called me,the play seemed like a gift from my father,who passed away recently," she says. Mridul gets into the shoes of the rebellious Barbara,while Pillai is the unglamorous,librarian sister. Pune has a thriving English theatre loving audience. Though funding is less in terms of Mumbai,people here know to appreciate the efforts of those who do theatre , says Mridul. Dubey's daughter,Ira is the young north-eastern housekeeper. Another actor in the play is British debutant,Danny,who described his role as that of a "simple character." Gidwani makes a comeback to the stage after a long break. It is contemporary,powerful,intelligent and funny. There is no single protagonist here, she says. Actor Maneesh Verma,a regular in Hindi plays,ventures into English theatre with August: Osage County.
