09 July,2011 09:20 AM IST | | Aditi Sharma
Ace Production's One Out Of Six is a reunion of sorts for some of Mumbai's best theatrical talentu00a0-- Cyrus Broacha, Bugs Bhargava, Kunal Vijaykar, Karla Singh and Raell Padamsee
The stage at NCPA's Tata Theatre is all propped up and ready for the grand rehearsal but the actors have decided to rest a bit before a select audience troops in to watch them. Meanwhile, the super efficient backstage team is busy patting out last-minute details. Bemused, we watch as the executive producer lies down on the bed and starts flapping like a fish out of water to test its strength. Just then we're told the actors are ready for a chat about the play and we move backstage hoping the bed does not disintegrate before the rehearsal.
Cyrus Broacha as the protagonist's effeminate lover
The cast is crowded inside one of the four tiny changing rooms. Cyrus Broacha, who plays the protagonist's gay lover, is sprawled across the sofa wearing nothing but a T-shirt and a flimsy pink cloth covering his underwear. "It's alright with you, na?" Cyrus asks. We nod, knowing not what else to say. "I have to wear leather and velvet pants throughout the play ya. It gets really hot," he provides further explanation. Co-actor Bugs Bhargava and set designer Kunal Vijaykar don't even attempt to hide their amusement. They've known the 'brat' too long now.
One Out Of Six is a happy reunion production for most of the people involved with the play. Bugs, Kunal, Cyrus, the director Karla Singh and producer Raell Padamsee have all worked together in various productions including some of late Pearl Padamsee's best plays. Obviously, they hit it off from day one and there's more madness than sense at most rehearsals. The crazies work well for a play like One Out of Six, which has an insanely convoluted plot that's meant to elicit non-stop laughs.
Central to the play's plot is the love story between the protagonist, Melvin (Aman Uppal) and his lover (Cyrus), which is revealed to the hero's angst-stricken father, Joe Pereira (Bugs). Cyrus is absolute fun as the effeminate lover and Bugs has perfected his old-man features (which results in him being typecast often, unfortunately). On stage, there's almost a jugalbandi when these three guys take over.
"We need things to laugh about. Everything in the world has become serious and dramatic ufffd there's politics and traffic and pollution... it's all very stressful. But One Out Of Six is a play that will make people leave the auditorium with a smile on their face," says Karla, while talking about the play. Bugs points out that the play also brings to fore issues of homophobia and accepting one's sexuality but in a light vein. Aman adds, "Working in the play has helped me look at certain experiences I had had with the gay community in a better way."
u00a0Lastly, if it's a play being directed by Karla, who is also an accomplished choreographer, it has to have a song and dance sequence. When we ask Karla about it, she sheepishly agrees and then quickly points out, "Both Bugs and Cyrus have excellent voices! We had this talent and it's a comedy so we thought let's see if we can weave it in. Eventually, we decided to work with at least one song but that turned into four and then to six. But it's fun." It sure is fun to watch Bugs open the play with his own rendition of Elton John's song for heart-broken souls, Sacrifice.
On: July 10, 7.30 pm at Tata Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point.
Call: 22824567
Tickets: Rs 1,500, Rs 1,250, Rs 1,000, Rs 750, Rs 500, Rs 400, Rs 300 and Rs 200
