Narenatplay

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR  It's A Wonderful Life/ English play Director : Akarsh Khurana  Adaptation:  Mary Elliott Nelson   Theatre group : Akvarious Productions  Cast : Shaun Williams, Garima Yajnik, Dilshad Edibam, Kashin Shetty, Prerna Chawla, Faisal Rashid, Siddhant Seth Rating : **** -- The character of George Bailey was made famous by director Frank Capra and actor James Stewart in the 1946 film It's A Wonderful Life . The film was later adapted for the stage by Mary Elliott Nelson. The subject attracted director Akarsh Khurana to stage the play in India with an ensemble cast. With Shaun Williams playing George, the director stuck to the script as-is, without converting George to Giridhar or Bedford Falls, where it is set, to Bandra Reclamation. George plays a frustrated businessman who contemplates suicide on Christmas eve as things aren't going right for him. A guardian angel 'second class' (Dilshad Edibam) is assigned the task of intervening, and there are f...

  BY NARENDRA KUSNUR  Khichik/ Hindi play Director, translator : Divya Jagdale  Writer ; Shiv Subrahmanyam Theatre group : D For Drama Cast : Girija Oak, Ghanshyam Lalsa Rating : *** 1/2 A college girl reads a book as she waits for the bus, when a boy joins her, and keeps disturbing her. Khichik. She has a boyfriend, but slowly becomes friendly with the intruder. Khichik. Years later, Pooja Khanna and Sanjeev Menon are married, having the usual squabbles and patch-ups. Khichik. D For Drama's new play Khichik captures the story of Pooja and Sanjeev through their courtship, marriage, parenthood, separation and beyond. While that may sound like a routine, oft-heard tale, the heartening thing is that the lead pair of Girija Oak and Ghanshyam Lalsa shine through their performances, displaying spontaneous chemistry and a balance of humour with serious emotion. While she plays a corporate manager, he teaches history.  The play has been directed by Divya Jagdale, who had t...