Story of Diana and Charles now a play

Ever thought that a curse could conjure up images of not just witches and ghosts but also a concoction of a failed romance and comic incursions all thrown in ample proportions? Veena S Rao has managed the unthinkable. The former bureaucrat and author has scripted a fascinating play in four acts based on the sad story of Diana and Charles (Fiona and Quarles).

The Pierrot’s Troupe’s ‘The Tale of Quarles, the Prince who Fails’, an unusual and original satire on the British royal family in Shakespearean verse, promises to give the audience a taste of the famed self-deprecating British humour. It will be presented on June 9 at Dr BR Ambedkar Auditorium at 7 pm.

In her tryst with fiction, Veena, unveils a tale of the curse of Wally Sampson (Wallis Simpson) who never forgave the royal family for denying her due position as queen because she was a divorcee. This factor haunts the play from beginning to end. It ties up previous failed royal romances and follies, with a lot of ‘Macbeth’ and ‘Hamlet’, thrown in with comic effect.

Ask her why she converted the sad story into a play with Shakespearean verse, Veena says she had always been smitten by the glamour of Diana as she became bride of Prince Charles,” says Veena.

The timing of the play too, is so apt as it is being staged soon after the Prince Harry-Meghan Markle fairytale wedding. Veena minced no words in tweeting, “The Wally Sampson curse is over.... a divorcee.....an American... and of mixed race to boot..... entering Buckingham Palace.. Wally can have her last laugh…”

Tom Alter was the original director of the play but due to his sudden demise, his close associate in theatre, Dr Sayeed Alam, took over the director’s mantle from him.

“Delhi audiences were enthralled by the play as Dr Alam had smoothly compressed and meshed it to a duration of 1 hour 45 minutes,” says Veena.

She hopes that Bengalureans too will also enjoy not just the deadpan, sarcastic humour in the play but also find the story gripping.