What makes The Interview a good play… wait, it seems easier to describe what doesn’t make The Interview a good play and those defects are… well… there aren’t really any actually.
When a play holds onto you by your collar, forces you to laugh and then alternatively pushes you through a Japanese torture of sorts and a walk in the park (in your head) cause you’re bored out of your wits — you know it’s a bad play. But what when a play does the exact opposite? What when a play makes you laugh out so heartily, you’re afraid of losing teeth, sputum and biting your tongue by mistake in the process, then what?
Then, considering how the theatre scene has been in Bangalore lately, you’re probably watching The Interview.
Wickedly funny in parts, and as grave and cold as death in others, The Interview is a play that teases you, makes you feel all warm on the inside, makes you nod your head in total understanding (because, we’ve all been through parts of this ‘Interview’ in real life) and then scares the **it out of you, when you least expect it. This is what they call a theatrical experience, I think (?). No, I know!
Where do I begin to express the sheer brilliance of narrative, acting prowess and tight, crisp and concise direction? Let me start by saying that this is definitely one of the best plays I’ve ever seen and would urge, even seduce anyone to go watch it. This is ‘that’ play that will convert any theatre hater into an amorous lover — no kidding!
The sets are elaborate in terms of scale and serve the purpose and I must say that we particularly enjoyed the sheer simplicity in design. The lights are simple and serve the purpose, but the music is what catches your attention. With a wonderful overture and an equally hard-hitting finalé piece — amongst the smorgasbord of emotions that mindf*** your brain as you leave, the music seems like a bright light at the end of a really dark tunnel.
It would be unfair to claim that any one member of the cast outdid the other and I think Adhaar Khurana, Adhir Bhat, Karan Pandit, Kashin Shetty and Prerna Chawla, all deserve their due credit. The true appreciation of course can only be gobbled up by Akarsh Khurana, who is the maverick behind the well-crafted piece. And before I forget a huge round of applause to Siddharth Kumar for a most crisp, succinct, surprising and wonderfully hilarious indigenous script! Those 80 minutes, dear friends, will stay with you for a long time to come.
Be at Ranga Shankara, JP Nagar, tonight, 7.30pm onwards, priced at Rs200 or book online at www.bookmyshow.com and www.indianstage.in, call 9845602265
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