Mocking one's state of 'affairs'

The play narrates the story of a man tangled in the web of mixed emotions and vexed choices.

When a fine actor, writer and director with a calling for comedy is set to stage his play after years, one can expect a hilarious evening ahead. Saurabh Shukla’s play 2 to Tango 3 to Jive - Affairs to Remember is neither bombastic nor mild but introspective for the middle-aged.

Playing Parminder Singh Sethi, a restaurateur, Saurabh enters the stage and makes a phone call to his assistant Monica. Their conversation reveals his identity. Infact, it is through his conversations with the three protagonists - Shomali Singh (Achint Kaur), Rinki (Sadiya Siddiqui) and Savita (Preiti Mamgain). All three are popular faces on television and cinema and support Saurabh in his endeavours to narrate his complicated desire to be with someone.

While his attempt to indulge in an extra-marital affair comes forth as a need for a partner in the first act, the second act shows Saurabh as a chilled out person without guilt. Achint’s practical approach towards an affair and need to gratify physical desires brings instant adult humour. But till this point, Saurabh seems to be looking out for a companion.

With Sadiya’s entry, Saurabh pretends to be a little more experienced but only to be stalled by the ambitious ‘Delhi delight’ aka Rinki (Sadiya’s character). With her exit, the dreams to behave young and spirited vanishes too.

Therefore, in the final act, Saurabh is shown with Savita - his best friend’s wife. He doted on the latter for months before taking his third chance on an extra-marital affair. It, however, turns out to be a bad experience and ‘Pami’ (Saurabh) narrates the woes of his life to the audience in a monologue.

This also serves as a conclusion to the plot which is mainly about simple conversations documented in one play. While Saurabh remains true to his natural style, Sadiya shocks the audience with her energy and Achint drives every one present towards excellence in performance.

The detailed set remains crucial with a balcony and a kitchen area that comes into use in the later acts. But one wonders about the sudden disappearance of the kitchen crockery in the third one! 

There were City specific references throughout which allowed the audience to relate to the script. But as far as humour is concerned, it was like sugar-coated capsules.