CHIMERAS (ki-mare-uhs)

An eclectic ensemble of stories, rendered with an exhilarating mix of dance and drama; Chimeras offered its viewers a delightful treat, taking them through the little known aspects of the lives of three extraordinary women from our great epics.

Sita, the epitome of endurance and beauty, always taken as an example for dutifulness and diligence, pours her heart out to Lakshmana when Rama casts here into exile. Priya Venkataraman, through her piquant performance showed us the many disappointments Sita faced in the hands of her beloved. A heady mix of facts hitherto unknown, showed us the injustice borne by the most pious of women spoken about in our history. The actor truly enacted the emotions felt by Sita, in a narration that shook our conditioned views on “The Perfect Man”.

Draupadi, questions The Pandavas on their intents and motives on the Throne of Hastinapura. Surabhi Herur with her invigorating performance portrayed Draupadi through all her emotions - Her love towards Arjuna, her piety to Kunti, her devotion to Krishna and her woebegone experiences with the world. The actor balanced all these complex emotions in a rendition, which left the audience awestruck. Be it, the mournful episodes of recovery from her humiliation or the joyful experiences of sighting Arjuna for the first time, Surabhi Herur captured the true essence of her character and enacted it in a performance which surely gained deep admiration and appreciation from many a viewers.

Kunti, a woman much respected in The Mahabharatha for her loyalty, her pious nature and her composure is in conversation with Sanjaya. She reminiscences her past and the various travails she bore with her husband and then her children. Manaswini Rao in her debut gave a brilliant performance enacting these situations which brims with hope for an eventful future on stage.

The play was interspersed with Dance routines that showcased the stories of the main characters. Aarti Mohan with her graceful movements and fluid expressions rooted the audience to their seats and left them wanting for more. The artist also choreographed the play and deserves all the appreciation and more for her spectacular performance that conveyed the stories to even the most uninformed of audience.

Vasu Dixit, Kedarnath and Sandeep gave us a heart warming and splendid recital, which proves that live music goes best with plays. Kudos to Amjad Parvez for the simplicity of the Set Design that enhanced the actors on stage and gave them the right edge to portray the characters efficiently. The Light Design done by Kishore Acharya was excellent and it added to the emotions played on stage albeit the numerous switchovers. Surabhi Herur also designed the costumes, which where charming and were well suited on the characters.

Krishna, the Director and “The Great Author” livened the audience with his whimsical notions and light-hearted comments. Three Cheers to his efforts in making this play such a success in bringing out the characters from the entire cast. I applaud a rendition that is by far one of The Best of VODO. I wish him good luck and hope to see many more productions in the future.

Waiting for Lefty...In His Shadows

Only a group like VODO can pull off a successful show despite technical glitches, cast members lurking in each others shadows and some murmurs of discontent.

A play about the New York Cab Union strike in the early thirties, it talks of the indignations the common man faced then and their responses to it fueled by broken homes, shattered ideals and moral responsibilities.

The cast, numbering more than 20 (some planted in the audience- which frankly gave a shock or two to the innocent bystanders) portrayed the characters well and the viewers were truly moved by the renditions of Sid and Florie. I don't know about the lump in her throat, but that scene did leave many amongst the audience spellbound (The music, which failed, nonetheless added some more character to the scene and showed the true plight of the heart-broken couple) Joe's monologue and his fight with Edna were superb! The painful recollections of his unfruitful labor and her genuine need to fend for her ailing children did show the actor's efforts in perfecting the techniques that transported us to their worlds. The doctor's in conversations were so emphatic in their lines that for a bit I had to stop myself and update the conversation (much to the pain of my fellow viewer). Mr. Fayette and Miller showcasing the two ends of an economy were brilliant in bringing about the differences. Mr. Keller, though overdone in the make up dept, delivered - I believe, an exceptionally good narration instigating the Strike. The sets and the costumes were reminiscent of the era – simple, modest and with a lingering recollection of having seen most of it in a school auditorium somewhere :-)

VODO should be proud of the capacity of its members to stage comedy and serious plays with the same amount of passion and perseverance that leaves the audience wanting for more.