Email
Print
ShareMumbai: It will be Mumbai's first tribute to the late legendary pop star Michael Jackson. While his fans across the world are still struggling to come to terms with the music icon's death, Mumbai's theatre fraternity is ready with a fitting tribute for the King of Pop.
Titled Wah Michael Jackson, Aah Michael Jackson, this hinglish production traces the life of Jackson since he was 11 to his recent death, including the many scandals and bitter relationships that plagued his career.
Award-winning director Mujib Khan, known for his journalistic plays, has taken the colossal task of amassing newspaper reports from different national and international publications to script his play and says that this play has been one of the greatest challenges of his career. Khan says, "It will be the city's first tribute to the singer, a comprehensive package that narrates his life through the decades." Interestingly, his much publicised divorces, paedophilia scandals and his obsession with prescription drugs all find place in the play.
The play captures Jackson's life in two acts -- that takes the audience through the zenith and nadir of his personal life. However, it may be disappointing for MJ fans to learn that there will be no actual character on stage that will represent the legend. Khan explains why, stating, "There is no actor in the Mumbai theatre circuit today enigmatic enough to play the character of Jackson. We do not want to denigrate MJ by putting up a caricature. Using MJ's music would also have been a good option, but acquiring the rights at this stage is a little complicated."
Interestingly, Khan's group will not be performing on the stage but will sit among the audience and perform.
