THE air at Music Academy was unusual, the language unfamiliar. This was amongst the few things Surabhi, the Hyderabad based theatre group brought to the city.
A spectacle awaited you inside. It was Surabhi’s first play Pathala Bhairavi. The house was packed and the stage more colourful than ever. Bright orange and red costumes shimmered in the distance, with minimal sets but backdrops of the kind unknown in city plays. These were hand painted ones that changed in the wink of an eye. For a moment, you saw a picture perfect landscape only to be replaced by buildings and urban signs. Then there was a snake that swept the stage and sent flying. Also unforgettable was the battle with the crocodile that left you mesmerised and in awe of the timing and the act that revealed no flaw despite the use of a dummy.
The lighting was perfect in many hues and the effect more than just beautiful. The techniques used in acting and stage direction deserve not just appreciation but reverence. 120 years in the business and it seemed to come naturally to them.
Sixty cast members, all ready to conquer in some part of their lives, effortlessly walked in and out, including toddlers who were part of a village scene. Song and dance sequences took you by surprise. The stage suddenly turned into a dreamland with a colourful bunch swaying to music in the background. Another thing that set Surabhi in a class apart was the fact that theatre held no language barriers. The language hardly seemed a means to convey. Like Babji said, "I will do plays only in Telugu wherever I go."
expresso@epmltd.com