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Theatre watch
Sharmila Bhagwat
The four day-theatre festival organised by the Shiv Sena at Suyog Hall, Mulund east last week evoked a good response and provided some meaningful entertainment for one and all.
In its 20th year, the festival presented three significant productions from Marathi stage, a play 'Balnatye', and a special programme for senior citizens. It was a great treat for the audience as some of the top stars of Marathi stage today like Prashant Damle, Sanjay Narvekar, Supriya Pilgaonkar, Vikram Gokhale, Shekhar Phadke, Vivek Lagoo and Satish Tare performed at the festival.
The Natyamahotsav opened with the courtroom drama and suspense thriller 'Khara Sangayacha Tar'. Based on Agatha Christie's 'Witness For the Prosecution', the play concentrated on a murder trial. The slickness in the production values and excellent performances by Vivek Lagoo, Akshay Pendse and Vikram Gokhale made it an engaging entertainment. The magnificent performance by Supriya Pilgaonkar was an additional attraction of the play. She skillfully played the mysterious woman, full of surprises - cold and a calculating woman and also a sensitive woman deeply in love. Supriya Pilgaonkar was also felicitated on the occasion for the success of 'Nacha Baliye'.
'Jadoo Teri Nazar' was the celebration of romance. Based on the universal theme of love, the vibrant and energetic play captured the spirit of the new generation.
The play is loosely based on Shakespeare's romantic comedy 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. However, 'Jadoo Teri Nazar' is neither an adaptation nor a translation of the original but according to the renowned playwright Ratnakar Matkari "is a tribute to Shakespeare". The director Mangesh Kadam has successfully retained the element of magic and mysticism in this modern version. The fairy king is characterised as an ophthalmologist played brilliantly by Prashant Damle and Puck of the original becomes Prakash, the eye specialist's compounder and friend, enacted skillfully by Satish Tare.
The duo happens to possess magical eye-drops, which they administer on the loved ones around them. Confusion in matters concerning love thus calls for one comic event after the other. Prakash also plays the role of a narrator as he reflects on the actions of the other characters and comments on them. Actresses Manasi Joshi and Salakha Pawar enact their parts well.
Songs and music has made this comedy further entertaining. As many as 12 songs written by Ratnakar Matkari and Shrirang Godbole are set to music by Ashok Patki. Music and rich sets add to the romantic and magical element in the play.
'One Two Ka Four', a slapstick comedy that presented noted actors Sanjay Narvekar and Shekhar Phadke in double roles took audience on a laughing riot. Confusion due to identical characters, running around, the incredible agility and timing of the actors all made it a good entertainment. Children participated in large numbers in the presentation of a children's play and also senior citizens in a special orchestra performance for them.
Certainly, the festival continued to preserve the tradition of good theatre.
Sharmila Bhagwat
The four day-theatre festival organised by the Shiv Sena at Suyog Hall, Mulund east last week evoked a good response and provided some meaningful entertainment for one and all.
In its 20th year, the festival presented three significant productions from Marathi stage, a play 'Balnatye', and a special programme for senior citizens. It was a great treat for the audience as some of the top stars of Marathi stage today like Prashant Damle, Sanjay Narvekar, Supriya Pilgaonkar, Vikram Gokhale, Shekhar Phadke, Vivek Lagoo and Satish Tare performed at the festival.
The Natyamahotsav opened with the courtroom drama and suspense thriller 'Khara Sangayacha Tar'. Based on Agatha Christie's 'Witness For the Prosecution', the play concentrated on a murder trial. The slickness in the production values and excellent performances by Vivek Lagoo, Akshay Pendse and Vikram Gokhale made it an engaging entertainment. The magnificent performance by Supriya Pilgaonkar was an additional attraction of the play. She skillfully played the mysterious woman, full of surprises - cold and a calculating woman and also a sensitive woman deeply in love. Supriya Pilgaonkar was also felicitated on the occasion for the success of 'Nacha Baliye'.
'Jadoo Teri Nazar' was the celebration of romance. Based on the universal theme of love, the vibrant and energetic play captured the spirit of the new generation.
The play is loosely based on Shakespeare's romantic comedy 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. However, 'Jadoo Teri Nazar' is neither an adaptation nor a translation of the original but according to the renowned playwright Ratnakar Matkari "is a tribute to Shakespeare". The director Mangesh Kadam has successfully retained the element of magic and mysticism in this modern version. The fairy king is characterised as an ophthalmologist played brilliantly by Prashant Damle and Puck of the original becomes Prakash, the eye specialist's compounder and friend, enacted skillfully by Satish Tare.
The duo happens to possess magical eye-drops, which they administer on the loved ones around them. Confusion in matters concerning love thus calls for one comic event after the other. Prakash also plays the role of a narrator as he reflects on the actions of the other characters and comments on them. Actresses Manasi Joshi and Salakha Pawar enact their parts well.
Songs and music has made this comedy further entertaining. As many as 12 songs written by Ratnakar Matkari and Shrirang Godbole are set to music by Ashok Patki. Music and rich sets add to the romantic and magical element in the play.
'One Two Ka Four', a slapstick comedy that presented noted actors Sanjay Narvekar and Shekhar Phadke in double roles took audience on a laughing riot. Confusion due to identical characters, running around, the incredible agility and timing of the actors all made it a good entertainment. Children participated in large numbers in the presentation of a children's play and also senior citizens in a special orchestra performance for them.
Certainly, the festival continued to preserve the tradition of good theatre.
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