While the Coimbatore Book Club and Theatre Association (CBC) often ascribe their success to one of its oldest members, it has been a while since we have seen the veteran theatre advisor at the forefront of CBC’s plays. All of 83 years and Shashi Gulati shows no signs of slowing down and continues with her persistent efforts to keep the city’s love for theatre alive. “English theatre has always needed an extra fillip in Coimbatore,” she admits on the sidelines of rehearsals for two plays that she has directed and will be performed this weekend. Opting for their usual formula of comedies performed over supper, their latest production will showcase two plays: Mother’s Day by J B Priestly and an English translation by Virginia and Frank Vernon of the original French play Villa for Sale by Sacha Guitry.
All in the family
Having chosen not to adapt the plays for the Indian audience but stick to original scene settings and scripts, the two 25-minute one-act plays will feature different performers with no overlaps.
Exploring a family’s relationship with a mother, the first play for
the evening Mother’s Day is the troupe’s first attempt at a comedy with a social message. “We usually like to keep things light-hearted but this time we decided to explore a certain facet of theatre that we haven’t done so far: a play with a message,” shares Shashi. Set in the drawing room of the Pearson family, the play follows the portrayal of the status of the mother in a family and how her family reacts when she tries to stand up for herself. Featuring the youngest cast in the group and perhaps their most prolific, the 14-year-old Liza Desai will play the part of the daughter, while the lead role of Mrs Pearson, the mother, will be portrayed by Monisha Mathur, followed by Sapna Umamaheswar in the role of a clairvoyant, Mrs Fitzgerald, who goads the mother into action.
On the house
The second play Villa for Sale, though it appears to be a straightforward comedy, represents a picture of the early 20th-century French social setting of how the affluent outdo others in exploiting opportunities that provide material gain. Also, set in the drawing room of Juliette’s villa (whose character is played by Shilpi Mathur) that is up for sale, the play does not have any significant change in setting and props and features Amit Mathur (CBC’s sound director), Sudha Chandrashekar, Divya Baffna and Tanvi Mathur.
`600 with dinner at Eat Alley. From 6 pm. On July 28.