Wednesday, January 31, 2007

...And sunshine follows the rain...

Blr: Sunshine and blooms (as seen through my 1.3MP phone camera!)

...And sunshine follows the rain...
that's the name of the play I saw this week. (don't read any further if you plan to watch the play...this post might spoil the surprise element in the play!). There was something very very unique about this play. Something that I have never come across in another play or any kind of performance or form of entertainment.

There were 4 main characters in the play and each of these characters parts were played by atleast 2 artists! There were 3 Tom Wakefields, 2 Laura Wakefields, 2 Amanda Wakefields and 2 Jim O' Connors! Neither were they stereotyped representations of the character in different stages of their lives..nor were they distinct 'the good' and 'the bad' representations of the characters. It was just that all the 3 Toms put together represented the complete 'Tom' at any given point! If 'Tom' had to deliver a dialogue, it was kind of split between these 3 artists. And all the artists delivered the dialogues pretty well and there wasn't any lack of continuity just because 3 people were saying what 'Tom Wakefield' was supposed to say. Needless to say, the 3 Toms all dressed alike...but they made no attempt to be look alikes in their expressions or mannerisms. They did not resemble each other. Amanda 1 had short cropped hair, and Amanda2 had long curly hair! Laura 1 was thin and tall, Laura2 was chubby! I thought the dramatization of the play and the idea of splitting a character in 2 or 3 randomly was the most ingenious thing I have seen in sometime.

Overall, the play was good. All the performers were not hard core theatre artists but they were definitely very talented. Laura1 sang 'Wrap your troubles in dreams, and dream your troubles away' rather well, I thought, for a non-professional singer!

....
Your castles may tumble (that's fate after all)
Life's really funny that way
No use to grumble, smile as they fall
Weren't you king for a day?

Just remember that sunshine
Always follows the rain
So wrap your troubles in dreams
And dream your troubles away
....