Commenting on the modern society

Relevant issues

One on One Part 2 showcased nine monologues. Part one of the same had received rave reviewes and hence Rage Theatre came out with a new perspective on modern culture and identity crisis. The plays were directed and written by different artistes and popular theatre and TV actors enacted different roles. The monologues were direct and were a social commentary as writers had thrown in their their perspectives on several issues. None of the acts stretched beyond 10 minutes.

The audience may have been eagerly waiting for Rajit Kapur’s Nobody, which was about a very deep issue, challenging the role of family, friends and society towards a man who dies, but the complex sentences in Kapur’s dialogues convoluted the thought it seemed. The story told by Kapur follows Vishal Modi, a virtual man who dies in Nepal earthquake, his body rots for nine days because of family’s negligence, bureaucratic procedures and plain apathy towards most of his friends. Nonetheless Kapur’s effortless acting and stage presence compensated for the same.

The monologue, Majnu featuring Sumeet Vyas and Hussein Dalal staged a play about the plight of soldiers in a conflict area (here Kashmir). They tried to depict  how Indian soldiers at a border outpost build a relationship over a series of conversations, all directly or indirectly asking one question. “What is a war?” Is the love for power overpowering the power of love? Which side would you choose? It presented a vague idea about the conflict and portray a more sensitive side of soldiers who are often considered unfriendly. The play saw some good poetry coming from Dalal and was directed by Akarsh Khurana.  
I am Every Woman was downright funny. It was a story about a dazed wife, a non-committal daughter, a guilt-ridden mum, a not-so-dutiful daughter in law. What happens when they are all the same person? Theatre actress  Anu Menon, best known for essaying Lola Kutty, took the audience by surprise.

The other cast included Neil Bhoopalam (DJ ELVIS), ShikhaTalsania (Dulhaniya), Zafar Karachiwala (Realty Bytes) and Gopal Datt (TC Rasbihari). From frustrated ticket collectors to feisty brides-to-be, the subject matter for One on One -2 was entertaining and gripped the audience till the end. The play included themes ranging from the music industry, bureaucracy, and marriage, the futility of war to immigration, real estate scams and Bollywood and a host of issues concerning Incredible India. The play was written and directed by a number of renowned people including Rahul DaCunha, Rajit Kapur, Nadir Khan, Sumeet Vyas, Ashish Jagtiani and Hussain Dalal.

The play was presented by Showhouse Events and the theatrical series will be staged across seven cities in India between August 2015 - September 2015.