A riveting evening

The April edition of Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Foundation's Theatre Weekend brought in a fresh breeze of theatre to the city. The theatre initiative presented 'Ho Sakta Hai Do Aadmi Do Kursiyaan' by the renowned Padatik & rikh theatre repertories from Kolkata.

Written and directed by Vinay Sharma and featuring Vinay Sharma and Ashok Singh on stage, the play was a brilliant act in minimalistic format. The two actor-protagonists narrated a series of short stories, each involving a chair, albeit in different situations.

An excited young man eyeing a powerful industrialist's chair, a vulnerable man worried about saving his marriage, a man finding solace in the permanence of two chairs beneath a tree, a street vendor who has risen from pavement to storefront, a man on a station platform mourning his missing father - all these stories unfolded, always the chair (or two) being a pivotal character.

With profound writing and stellar performances, the play captivated the audience's hearts. The gentle use of a windchime signalled changes between the narrated anecdotes.

Veteran Ashok Singh stole laughs with his excited banter and earnest portrayal while Vinay Sharma was deeply moving as the affable Punjabi man struggling with untold fears. "Why can't we let things be?", another character cries, as he fights against relentless change. The play was indeed a reminder that simplicity can often be brilliant. The Foundation's pick for the season went down well with a much-pleased audience.