A peep into cricket’s dark side with Belle Curv

Belle Curv puts the spotlight on cricket’s dark side
A scene from Belle Curv
A scene from Belle Curv

​While cricket fans in the city gear up to cheer Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) next month, city-based theatre group Thespian En has decided to portray a different side of the sport in their newest production. The mood gets serious and mysterious with Belle Curv, probably the first play to be based on cricket, as it sheds light on the match-fixing and betting, while showing us how the game evolved during the mid-1980s. Ajit Chitturi, director and one of the cast members, says, “It also explains the advent of the game in West Asia and in Sharjah in particular, one of the early epicenters of these offences in cricket.” 

In the play, written by playwright Chetan Shah, the protagonist — a former cricketer called The Don (played by Ajit) — uses a mathematical system on his computer to estimate probable scores by any team. With the help of a software expert (played by Akash Jessane), he uses bell curve illustrations (statistical graphs) to develop an algorithm to depict probable scores. “The play then gets into a serious mode when a committee is set up to look into what went on during the controversial period, up until when the game is finally cleaned up. The fascinating parallel story of the gangster’s moll and the love triangle make for an adorable entertainer,” says Ajit. 

As for the dialogues in the play, we find inspiration from one of the hubs of cricketing talent and controversies in India — Mumbai. “The language is in the true Chetan Shah style of classy English dialogues interloped with humourous lines. He also uses Mumbai street language for some characters,” reveals Ajit, adding that the costumes are contemporary in design. 

At Museum Theatre. March 29. 7.30 pm.  Tickets from Rs. 200 onwards.

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