Making Space

A new trend? A new challenge? Or just an attempt to keep experimentation alive? Whatever the reason, most people welcome it. Raell Padamsee, director of Games People Play, which was recently staged at Three Flights Up and then Razzberry Rhinoceros, is one of them. quot;The few auditoriums that the city has, work under very limiting circumstances. Small productions are left with the option of performing just once in three months. Therewas no other way but to look for alternative places,quot; she says.

And even though the size of the stage on offer was one-quarter of the size of an auditorium stage, it was acceptable. For the director it meant the undivided attention of a small audience, allowing actors the space to give their best. For the actors the high came from the challenge of bringing out the flavour of the play within the boundary of the small space available. And to satisfy a group of people who could see every drop of sweat. quot;In both venues, people came with the idea of witnessing an experiment. They were more involved because of the physical rapport that was established with the actors in course of the performance,quot; says Soni Razdan, who has the lead role in Games People Play.

Mumbai8217;s most talked-about culture baton, The Adda, too, has relished very satisfactory theatre of late. One such performance was director Sunil Shanbag8217;s Hindi adaptation of a Milan Kundera short story. A three-act play with just two chairs forprops 8212; that acted as both car and bed! The lady behind The Adda, Anuradha Tandon, recalls, quot;Sunil was almost horrified when he first came and saw the space that was going to be the stage. But he eventually did a wonderful job. The most interesting part of communicating with limited sets and props is that the actors have no choice but to churn out the best. The feedback they get is also honest because it comes from a close8217;, knowing audience.quot;

Nitin Mehta, who was present in the performance said, quot;The communication is at a different level in these performances. People come there because they want to see something different and they have the creative sensibilities to appreciate it.quot; Tom Alter was quot;relaxedquot; during his solo act at the Offbeat Cafe at Co, the bowling company. Even though the space was small, his one-act play Sagar and Son didn8217;t demand too much out of him. quot;There was no tension of tickets or profit. People came because they wanted to. It was just an intimate, relaxed evening. But ifyou ask me to do Jesus Christ Super Star at the Offbeat, there8217;s a big problem.quot;

But for traditionalists, breaking the barrier of space and surroundings is still too much to overcome. Mangal Dhillon, one of the first people to perform at The Adda, was rather disappointed with the response to his Theatre Wallah Urf Paagal Hai. quot;I was enthused by the idea of a small audience. I went hoping for intimate communication. But by the end, it was more like a rehearsal than a performance. It was extremely difficult to capture the audience, because they seemed to be there to share ideas, interact and have a good time. There was no stage and no peace. I felt like a warrior in the battlefield without weapons,quot; says Dhillon.

Is the stage set for a battle on grounds of space? Only the forthcoming theatre season will tell.