Strong cast, good adaptation, well-played characters. I was warned by people that I may either doze off during the play, or if I stay awake, I will notice that Ratna Pathak Shah cannot pull off a 16-year old’s role. But I think, it was because we know for a fact that she is nowhere close to 16. However, the real Antigone at the age of 16 must have been much more mature compared to any other girl of her age back then.
Nasiruddeen Shah was at his best, playing Creon, the frustrated king who was caught unaware and had to wear the crown of thorns only to face rebellion.
The dialogues were all in English, Indian English to be specific. I feel the play would have been better, more intense had it been in Hindi — but that may as well be coming from their Bollywood past that I have seen all their performances in Hindi only, as far as I remember.
Overall, an experience of a kind, to see the stalwarts attempting to shape perfection so closely. Worth a dekko.
And here’s some more of Bumbay, for you before I sign off!
And if you’re bored of local trains, you may want to buy a car from Car Point, the showroom is located right next to a scrap metal and paper mart in Mahim.
