Hamlet - The Clown Prince
Over the last weekend visit to Mumbai, I had the good fortune to watch a play at the Prithvi theatre. The play titled “Hamlet, The clown prince” has been running to rave reviews and packed houses for days and so it was only proper to drag myself out of a nice Saturday slumber.
Hamlet, the great Shakespearean tragedy, vividly charts the course of real and feigned madness—from overwhelming grief to seething rage—and explores themes of treachery, revenge, incest, and moral corruption.
This play however, was an interpretation from the eyes of 6 clowns. The tone of dialogue delivery is a “French English” where repertoire of dialogue is played out with a French accent.
The play begins with the protagonist, a soulful yet sad clown doing somewhat of a high speed summary of the plays great moments. What is commendable is the way the actor was able to spin out such a realistic “fast forward” of the storyline. One would imagine a play of the nature that is Hamlet to be a serious and text book version of the great play written by Shakespeare. But it is the playwright’s ingenuity with which this tragedy has been transformed into a witty, humorous screen play.
The actors on stage – many of whom I regret not to know the names of – were remarkable in the way every actor on stage should be. The dialogue perfect, the timing was spot on. What was interesting to note was the quick wit displayed by them while interacting with the audience. Prithvi is quite an intimate theatre and so the laughter shared seemed like that amongst good friends. I would like to see how this translates in a theatre like the NCPA with its capacity for larger crowds.
And if this wasn’t enough- the play goes straight on for 2 hours(or was it more.. can’t tell… was having such a great time), no breaks.
For those of you who haven’t caught this yet- please do yourself a favour and put this on your to do list for this month.
Friday, October 03, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Wet Sand
My next couple of blogs will be on the greatest written love songs in the world of rock and alternative music. It is in music that I found great insight and meaning into the world of love and the emotions it brings out.
While this is not necessarily the best of all love songs- In “Wet Sand” I found a melancholy feeling in its melody and the lyrics. Here’s my interpretation of this song. The song begins with the protagonist talking about his shadow side being amplified.. meaning all he feels next to him is his shadow when he wants this loved one to be there. But in the presence of his shadow he feels dissatisfied and alone. Its all very “elementary” and obvious to him.. but its also frustrating. In his innocent love affair with everywhere he talks about the wanderlust he has been a part of but that it means nothing. He knows that this person “is the best I know” and the line seems deeper that it appears.
In the agony of being apart from the one he truly loves, he feels his “sunny side has up and dried”. He knows that with every collision or argument his universe shifts into a new low. He realizes that what he did not recognize his true feelings for this person and he them for a momentary high of power in the relationship. (“The travesties that we have seen, Are treating me like Benzedrine”)
He goes on to dream of being with this person.. walking in the sun.. getting to know her and saying that he’d really try. He wants to make her his bride and leaves the thought hanging of who its for the better for.
The second part of the song goes on about how Norma Jean’s despair (Marilyn Monroe) is nothing compared to what she seems to be going through. He’s thought about it now and he has no doubt.. perhaps this is after he seems to have lost this love.
The last part of this song is the part which blows me over. The lyrics could mean a million things for each time it is sung. It has this strange quality of sounding different and possibly meaning all of the different things each time its sung out-
“You don’t form in the Wet Sand” – He knows now that she is divine and of an angelic quality and so she does not form in the wet sand.
“You don’t form in the Wet Sand” – When he walks he sees his footprints and not hers and he wishes for a second chance.
“You don’t form in the Wet Sand” – He is with this person but every time he wants to hold on to her, she washes away like the wet sand.
“You don’t form in the Wet Sand” – He finds her temperamental and does not know if he has her or she even exists or if it’s just a part of an illusion.
The song has a quality of going back and forth in time periods, sometimes reminiscing and sometimes talking about a moment in the present. Its lyrical genius makes it impossible for a reader to understand whether the protagonist is talking about the now or the past.
And for those of you who haven’t heard or paid attention to the lyrics, here it is:
Wet Sand - Red Hot Chilli Peppers
My shadow side, so amplified,
Keeps coming back dissatisfied
Elementary son but it's so...
My love affair with everywhere was innocent,
Why do you care?
Someone start the car time to go...
You're the best I know
My sunny side has up and died,
I'm betting that when we collide
The universe will shift into a low
The travesties that we have seen
Are treating me like Benzedrine
Automatic laughter from a pro
My, what a good day for a walk outside
I'd like to get to know you a little better, baby,
God knows that I really tried
My, what a good day for a take out bride
I'd like to say we did it for the better of
I saw you there, so unaware,
Those hummingbirds all in your hair
Elementary son but it's so...
The disrepair of Norma Jean
Could not compare to your routine
Balarama beauty going toe-to-toe
My, what a good day for a... let it slide
I'd like to say we did it for the better of
I thought about it, and I brought it out
I'm motivated by the lack of doubt
I'm consecrated, but I'm not devout
The mother, the father, the daughter, yeah
Right on the verge, just one more dose
I'm traveling from coast-to-coast
My theory isn't perfect, but it's close
I'm almost there, why should I care?
My heart is hurting when I share
Someone open up and let it show
My, what a good day for a walk outside
I'd like to think we did it for the better of
I thought about it, and I brought it out
I'm motivated by the lack of doubt
I'm consecrated, but I'm not devout
The mother, the father, the daughter, ohhhhh
You don't form in the wet sand,
You don't form at all
You don't form in the wet sand.
My next couple of blogs will be on the greatest written love songs in the world of rock and alternative music. It is in music that I found great insight and meaning into the world of love and the emotions it brings out.
While this is not necessarily the best of all love songs- In “Wet Sand” I found a melancholy feeling in its melody and the lyrics. Here’s my interpretation of this song. The song begins with the protagonist talking about his shadow side being amplified.. meaning all he feels next to him is his shadow when he wants this loved one to be there. But in the presence of his shadow he feels dissatisfied and alone. Its all very “elementary” and obvious to him.. but its also frustrating. In his innocent love affair with everywhere he talks about the wanderlust he has been a part of but that it means nothing. He knows that this person “is the best I know” and the line seems deeper that it appears.
In the agony of being apart from the one he truly loves, he feels his “sunny side has up and dried”. He knows that with every collision or argument his universe shifts into a new low. He realizes that what he did not recognize his true feelings for this person and he them for a momentary high of power in the relationship. (“The travesties that we have seen, Are treating me like Benzedrine”)
He goes on to dream of being with this person.. walking in the sun.. getting to know her and saying that he’d really try. He wants to make her his bride and leaves the thought hanging of who its for the better for.
The second part of the song goes on about how Norma Jean’s despair (Marilyn Monroe) is nothing compared to what she seems to be going through. He’s thought about it now and he has no doubt.. perhaps this is after he seems to have lost this love.
The last part of this song is the part which blows me over. The lyrics could mean a million things for each time it is sung. It has this strange quality of sounding different and possibly meaning all of the different things each time its sung out-
“You don’t form in the Wet Sand” – He knows now that she is divine and of an angelic quality and so she does not form in the wet sand.
“You don’t form in the Wet Sand” – When he walks he sees his footprints and not hers and he wishes for a second chance.
“You don’t form in the Wet Sand” – He is with this person but every time he wants to hold on to her, she washes away like the wet sand.
“You don’t form in the Wet Sand” – He finds her temperamental and does not know if he has her or she even exists or if it’s just a part of an illusion.
The song has a quality of going back and forth in time periods, sometimes reminiscing and sometimes talking about a moment in the present. Its lyrical genius makes it impossible for a reader to understand whether the protagonist is talking about the now or the past.
And for those of you who haven’t heard or paid attention to the lyrics, here it is:
Wet Sand - Red Hot Chilli Peppers
My shadow side, so amplified,
Keeps coming back dissatisfied
Elementary son but it's so...
My love affair with everywhere was innocent,
Why do you care?
Someone start the car time to go...
You're the best I know
My sunny side has up and died,
I'm betting that when we collide
The universe will shift into a low
The travesties that we have seen
Are treating me like Benzedrine
Automatic laughter from a pro
My, what a good day for a walk outside
I'd like to get to know you a little better, baby,
God knows that I really tried
My, what a good day for a take out bride
I'd like to say we did it for the better of
I saw you there, so unaware,
Those hummingbirds all in your hair
Elementary son but it's so...
The disrepair of Norma Jean
Could not compare to your routine
Balarama beauty going toe-to-toe
My, what a good day for a... let it slide
I'd like to say we did it for the better of
I thought about it, and I brought it out
I'm motivated by the lack of doubt
I'm consecrated, but I'm not devout
The mother, the father, the daughter, yeah
Right on the verge, just one more dose
I'm traveling from coast-to-coast
My theory isn't perfect, but it's close
I'm almost there, why should I care?
My heart is hurting when I share
Someone open up and let it show
My, what a good day for a walk outside
I'd like to think we did it for the better of
I thought about it, and I brought it out
I'm motivated by the lack of doubt
I'm consecrated, but I'm not devout
The mother, the father, the daughter, ohhhhh
You don't form in the wet sand,
You don't form at all
You don't form in the wet sand.
Monday, June 02, 2008
My Kryptonite
I have returned to these pages after a long time. It is said that writing is to the soul what flying is to a bird.. No, don’t judge me just yet. I have always found myself in these pages...
The last week I was reading “Unaccustomed Earth” by Jhumpa Lahiri for a book club when an interesting discussion emanated. Are there certain patterns that we crave for in our life? Is it true that our habits rule our world? Are we “accustomed” to certain things to make us feel more alive?
This brought me to an interesting song by a band called 3 Doors Down called “My Kryptonite”. A refresher for those of you are not familiar with this term - Kryptonite is a mineral from the Superman mythos, originating in the Superman radio show series.
The material is usually shown as having been created from the remains of Superman's native planet of Krypton, and generally has detrimental effects on Superman and other Kryptonians.
The word Kryptonite is also used in speech as a synonym for Achilles' heel, the one weakness of an otherwise invulnerable hero.
So here’s my question- do we all have our own kryptonite- the one weakness that we can never overcome or the one weakness which will always leave us aching, vulnerable.
I find that in life we can always govern our choices. We can choose.. no matter what on the way we approach situations, complexities. It could range from choosing not to honk your horn at the slow moving car in front of you to choosing to act in a particular fashion when it all seems too hard. While I know of my own “Kryptonite”- I believe as humans we are the rare species that are blessed by the oh-so-powerful word – “Choice”.
Integrity at the moment of choice.. Isn’t that what makes us who we truly are?
I have returned to these pages after a long time. It is said that writing is to the soul what flying is to a bird.. No, don’t judge me just yet. I have always found myself in these pages...
The last week I was reading “Unaccustomed Earth” by Jhumpa Lahiri for a book club when an interesting discussion emanated. Are there certain patterns that we crave for in our life? Is it true that our habits rule our world? Are we “accustomed” to certain things to make us feel more alive?
This brought me to an interesting song by a band called 3 Doors Down called “My Kryptonite”. A refresher for those of you are not familiar with this term - Kryptonite is a mineral from the Superman mythos, originating in the Superman radio show series.
The material is usually shown as having been created from the remains of Superman's native planet of Krypton, and generally has detrimental effects on Superman and other Kryptonians.
The word Kryptonite is also used in speech as a synonym for Achilles' heel, the one weakness of an otherwise invulnerable hero.
So here’s my question- do we all have our own kryptonite- the one weakness that we can never overcome or the one weakness which will always leave us aching, vulnerable.
I find that in life we can always govern our choices. We can choose.. no matter what on the way we approach situations, complexities. It could range from choosing not to honk your horn at the slow moving car in front of you to choosing to act in a particular fashion when it all seems too hard. While I know of my own “Kryptonite”- I believe as humans we are the rare species that are blessed by the oh-so-powerful word – “Choice”.
Integrity at the moment of choice.. Isn’t that what makes us who we truly are?
Friday, March 28, 2008
I'm only pretty sure that I can't take anymore
Before you take a swing
I wonder What are we fighting for?
When I say out loud
I want to get out of this
I wonder...Is there anything I'm going to miss?
I wonder.. How it's going to be
When you don't know me
How's it going to be
When you're sure I'm not there
How's it going to be
When there is no one to talk to, between you and me
How's it going to be
Where we used to laugh
There's a shouting match
Sharp as a thumbnail scratch
A silence
I can't ignore
I wonder how's it going to be when it goes down
Hows it going to be when your not around
Hows it going to be
When you found out there was nothing between you and me
How's it going to be.
Hows it going to be
When you don't know me any more
And how's it going to be?
Want to get myself back in again
The soft dive of oblivian
Wanna taste the soul of your skin
The soft dive of oblivian
How's it going to be When you don't know me any more
How's it going to be?
Before you take a swing
I wonder What are we fighting for?
When I say out loud
I want to get out of this
I wonder...Is there anything I'm going to miss?
I wonder.. How it's going to be
When you don't know me
How's it going to be
When you're sure I'm not there
How's it going to be
When there is no one to talk to, between you and me
How's it going to be
Where we used to laugh
There's a shouting match
Sharp as a thumbnail scratch
A silence
I can't ignore
I wonder how's it going to be when it goes down
Hows it going to be when your not around
Hows it going to be
When you found out there was nothing between you and me
How's it going to be.
Hows it going to be
When you don't know me any more
And how's it going to be?
Want to get myself back in again
The soft dive of oblivian
Wanna taste the soul of your skin
The soft dive of oblivian
How's it going to be When you don't know me any more
How's it going to be?
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
A Thousand Miles from Nowhere
There is something in the air tonight
I look ahead, beams of light
What was it that touched your soul
Made you feel, Made you whole
Driving by, whizzing streets
City lights, trick a treat
I’ve come too far
To now turn back
No more light
Moments of black
I follow each turn
Each curve of the road
It will lead me there
Or so I’m told
The scent of spring
In the air
A falling teardrop
A breeze through my hair
My journey may not be at end
I’ll turn back over the next bend
There is something in the air tonight
I look ahead, beams of light
What was it that touched your soul
Made you feel, Made you whole
Driving by, whizzing streets
City lights, trick a treat
I’ve come too far
To now turn back
No more light
Moments of black
I follow each turn
Each curve of the road
It will lead me there
Or so I’m told
The scent of spring
In the air
A falling teardrop
A breeze through my hair
My journey may not be at end
I’ll turn back over the next bend
Friday, February 29, 2008
Like all great travellers, I have seen more than I remember and remember more than I have seen.
Its 4 am as I gaze out at the misty sunrise. Dawn is breaking and the sea beyond calls out. Few mornings start out so beautiful, but as they say – with great beauty comes great pain, which we were about to realize in the next 12 hours.
Hongkong Calling read the note from our VP which brought us to the land where strangely to us, everyone looks the same. This is not a bad thing considering the people in Hong Kong look fabulous. The fashion capital of Asia some call it and not word is more true. From the moment we landed, the feeling of being the podgy, ugly duckling invaded our very being. "Look at those piglets."
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