Everyone has a solution to a problem that is not theirs to deal with. This idea forms the crux of A Very Normal Family, a 90-minute-long dark dramedy that deals with divorce, female sexuality and a false sense of ancestral pride. Though cine actor Roshan Mathew helms the directorial hat for this original theatrical venture, he insists upon calling it a group effort.
“The list of names, who made this play possible goes on and on. My friend, Francis Thomas, an advertising professional and writer, weaved this narrative after I shared a three-liner story pitch. Fashion designer Sreejith Jeevan, breathed new life into the characters with his sartorial ensemble. Forplay’s Seljuk R, composed a perfect soundtrack,” states the 27-year-old Drama School of Mumbai alumnus, who cites popular plays like 7/7/07 and Tughlaq as his inspirations.
Under normal circumstances
This English-Malayalam production, which leans on its minimal stage design and ‘rhythm of performance’, is set to follow scenarios that occur when an entire family gets together for a three-day weekend. “Topics at the heart of this piece aren’t traditionally comedic but the contextual setting is what gives it that edge. If one digs deeper, every family is odd in its own bizarre ways,” explains the star, whose next big screen release is Thottappan.
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The crew is able to let the plot’s warped humour sink-in effortlessly—as witnessed by many during its debut showcase in Thiruvananthapuram last February—due to a cast of eight accomplished actors; many of whom have made a name for themselves in alternative Malayalam cinema. This includes names like Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Darshana Rajendran, Santhy Balachandran, Rajesh Madhavan, Syamaprakash M S, Sanjay Menon and Sidharth Varma.
The story unfolds in a modern-yet-matriarchal family. “The kind that’s extremely proud of their roots and the name on its plaque,” quips Roshan, elaborating, “So, when a young woman in the family announces that she has filed for divorce after two years of marriage, her relatives get triggered. They all scramble—to save the family name ‘from disgrace’—and find absurd solutions for a problem that really matters to only two people.” Audiences in the city are sure to connect with such narratives that deal with meddlesome family members blowing up issues out of proportion.
On June 1-2. At Mamangam.
`499. Available on insider.in
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