Archana Asthana
The Bard of Bengal, Nobel Laureate, Rabindranath Tagore needs no introduction, and his prolific works spanning nearly all literary and artistic genres have entertained and moved readers universally, and more recently, by Short Cut Productions (SCP), a brainchild of the dynamic and talented duo, Ritendra and Roshni Datta. Created in 2020, SCP aims to nurture curiosity and experimentation through myriad creative outlets, and this is their second independent production. A bold rendition of three short stories by Tagore, unified by the path of the flowing Ganges through the locations was staged at Pear Theater in Mountain View over a weekend in December.
Purnima Verma, in her first attempt at directing, brought “Rishikesh” based on the short story, “Detective”, opening with a flowy Tagore dance sequence depicting the river Ganges. The story focuses on the ambitious detective (Jay Ruparel) who seeks intriguing cases to solve, while balancing professional and personal lives. Following a trail of “clues” he ends up upending this very balance in a surprise twist.
“Benares” based on the story, “Monihar” and directed by Roshni Datta reveals the anguish of the childless bride (Vandana Ramakrishnan) of a wealthy businessman who succumbs to an unhealthy obsession with her jewels to the detriment of all relationships. The narration by a historian interested in the once opulent couple’s mansion to a stranger pivots to an unexpected end, following strange meanderings in the tale. Exquisite background music, a very edgy dance number, the contrast between the cavorting young couple and their older selves contoured the performance with elegance and finesse.
“Mayapur”, based on “Sampati” presented a totally different vibe, as a trio of carefree, happy, guileless young girls enchant with their playful dances and kinship. Enters, a “Babu moshai” (city dweller) who is captivated by the free-spirited Mrinmoyee (Roshni Datta excels in this role), often referred to as “pagli” (the mad one), much to his traditional mother’s chagrin. Jay Ruparel, in his directorial debut deftly brings the subtly changing relationship between the young couple to life. The initial resistance and unanswered questions finally mature and pure, unrestrained love sensitively unites.
The minimalistic yet skillful use of props; relevant backdrops reminiscent of old time Calcutta… red floors adorned with chalky “alpana”, black and white checkered floor tiles of the mansions, expanses of village green fields; evocative dances interspersed with dramatic Bollywood moments; effective use of shadows and silhouettes brilliantly exhibit the nuances. A few minor glitches in sound and light notwithstanding, the intimate setting enhanced the theatergoer experience, immersing the audience in the unfolding saga of each protagonist, where every emotion and inflection was evidenced. Superb cast and crew ensemble displayed their acting chops suitably impressing the audience.
It is harder to do justice to the full arc of the story plot, the nuances and mesh the characters while bringing it to a graceful finish in a short story than it is in a full-length play. It is also a challenge to meet the high standards when retelling Tagore tales, but SCP executes with aplomb, making us await their next offering.
Picture Credit: Aninda Mukherjee
