New play bares naked truth about human development

QTP's new production is not about issues of the flesh, but whether development has a negative side to it. What's On chatted with the creators

"It's not a SEX COMEDY" reads the poster of Q Theatre Production's (QTP) new play Project S.T.R.I.P. Written by Ram Ganesh Kamatham and directed by Quasar Thakore Padamsee, the play is a satire based on an anthropologist's discovery of the inhabitants of a fictitious island in the Bay of Bengal.

Why is it called Project S.T.R.I.P.? Quasar and Ram exchange a mysterious look before Ram says, "Watch the play." The performance takes off from issues that have been on both Ram and Quasar's mind for the last two years. Quasar explains, "There was a yin-yang situation of sorts. While I was travelling across the world, issues related to development came to my mind as they came to Ram's as he travelled across India. Although we were thinking at two different levels, our experiences and research led to the play."

The script that Ram describes as a snapshot of reality that is palatable, keeps away from the doom-gloom narrative of development. The play deals with a civilisation grappling with change and questions the integrity of human life that no one respects.

"It is the absurdity of this situation that renders it into a parody that is neither a woolly-headed comedy, nor a dismal narrative," says Ram. Quasar says, "When all of us at QTP heard the script for the first time, we were cracking up with the evil sense it made." Despite the satirical treatment of the subject, both Ram and Quasar believe that development and its subsequent effects are not issues that can be taken lightly. Ram drew from his own experiences of working as a development aide in Rajasthan and interaction with other development workers before he scripted the play. "If anything, I regret not having more experiences or insights,"
he admits. Quasar adds, "Issues like the Nandigram incident have been on our mind constantly. There is both, a positive and negative side to development. It would be nau00c3u0083u00c2u00afve to think that a play can solve the problems our world faces. But everyone working on this project feels strongly about it and we have taken a stand in the play."

The two-hour performance has been put up at break-neck speed, with the cast rehearsing for eight to nine hours every day. "I have cast an entire group of performers. We have worked with their energy and ideas. Ram and I have been open to their inputs and the script has gone through various changes," explains Quasar. The play will only run for 18 shows, however, it is a topic that neither Quasar nor Ram is willing to abandon. Ram says, "It's a short intense burst of energy. The performance is relentless and dynamic and we hope the performance keeps the viewers on edge."

Project S.T.R.I.P. runs at Prithvi Theatre, Juhu on June 16 and 17 (Rs 80) at 9 pm and June 18 to 21 (Rs 200) at 6 pm and 9 pm.
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