Encounters with former flames are always a tricky business. Especially when they happen right when you are about to do something very important. Such is the case for David Mortimore, the lead character in English playwright Ray Cooney’s popular 1987 farce play It Runs In The Family, who is about to deliver a medical lecture only to find that his former mistress has also turned up for the same. You will find how things get weirder for David in The Madras Players’ recreation of the same, in their latest production which will be staged at the Museum Theatre next week. Set in the ‘Doctor’s Common Room’, the 100-minute play shows how the protagonist gets into problematic situations and escapes from them.
Comedy central
The play is directed by Nilakantan N (affectionately called Nilu in theatre circles), and this is his first directorial venture for The Madras Players. Nilakantan though has already been directing plays for children, as part of his project called Dramact that focuses on introducing theatre into school curriculi. “I have always been a fan of comedies, be it this play or Funny Money, which The Madras Players staged around 14 years ago. Hence it was only logical for me to choose the same genre,” he says.
Cast away
Although familiarity with the theatre group played a big role in ensuring that he had a smooth time during rehearsals, Nilakantan reveals that he did initially find it challenging to zero in on the right cast. Comprising 12 members and led by TM Karthik as the protagonist, the cast also includes Rohit Raheja, a former drama student of Nilakantan who is making his theatrical debut in this play at the age of 20. “Even though the play is three decades old it is very much relevant today and the audience (open to ages 17 and above) will find the farcical situations and dialogues hilarious,” he says, expressing hope to take this play to other cities in the future.
September 22-24. Museum Theatre. Tickets from Rs. 200 on in.bookmyshow.com