Shakespearean classic gets a contemporary twist
24 February, 2015 | The Times of India
Share24 February 2015
The Times of India
'The Merchant of Venice' flags off theatre fest
The stage is set for perhaps the biggest such theatre initiative of its kind in the country. On Friday evening, when audiences troop in for a play at the NCPA's Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, it will be the start of a nine-month-long festival, bringing together five new productions by acclaimed theatre groups, staged over 45 shows in Mumbai and Delhi. Aadyam, an initiative by the Aditya Birla group in association with The Times of India, will make its debut with Masque Theatre's 'The Merchant of Venice', an adaptation of William Shakespeare's play.
An initiative by the Aditya Birla Group, Aadyam aims at crafting a holistic experience for each play that extends beyond the stage and takes theatre to newer audiences. Along with creating quality productions, the goal is to act as a catalyst to streamline stage management, encourage marketing ideas as well as groom administrative structure in the arts world, which will in turn optimise box-office results. While it makes its debut with theatre, Aadyam will soon branch out to other performing arts as well.
It takes the audience into the world of gamblers, businessmen, rich merchants, socialites and the prodigal youth, says director Vickram Kapadia. "Imagine the world of Paris Hilton, Las Vegas, Wall Street and Manhattan all rolled into one where everything is a game of chance. Imagine the 21st century." It's a contemporary take on the original which centres on moneylender Shylock demanding his pound of flesh from merchant Antonio. The latter has borrowed the money from Shylock to help his friend Bassanio, who in turn, needs it to impress rich heiress Portia. To get the loan, Antonio signs a diabolical contract that entitles Shylock to a pound of flesh cut from his body, should he fail to repay it.
The appeal of the Bard's plays is their insight into human behaviour and themes that are still relevant to today's society, says Kapadia, adding that 'The Merchant of Venice' is a Shakespearean work that Mumbai audiences tend to be the most familiar with, having studied it in school. The Masque Theatre team hopes the production encourages patrons to further explore Shakespeare's plays. If he had his way and never-ending funds, Kapadia says he'd like nothing better than to be a 'Shakespearewallah'. "I'd like to travel the world, staging one Shakespeare play after another. What could be better?"
But it's always a challenge to adapt the Bard's plays, he says. "How does one make it work today? While it'd be cruel to dilute the poetry of the dialogue, one can always play with the imagery. It is the modern imagery that would make it more identifiable and a treat to watch," says Kapadia.
Creating quality plays and reaching out to new audiences is among Aadyam's goals, along with helping shed the perception that theatre-going is an activity restricted only to a certain section of people.
"We're grateful to the Aditya Birla group for this investment in theatre which gives us the opportunity to freely c;reate productions of scale—the kind that are rarely seen on the Bombay stage," says Kapadia. "Theatre is a medium that sees, in corporate speak, moderate gain through considerable input. It takes great foresight and patience to allow it room to develop and grow."
Also on the roster later are Sunil Shanbag's 'Mere Piya Gaye Rangoon', Rage Theatre's 'The Sidhus of Sea View Towers', 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' by Akvarious, and 'God of Carnage' by Q Theatre Productions.
Tickets at the venue or on www.bookmyshow.com.
