And then- look that way!

It truly feels euphoric! COEP, for the second time in two years and the third time in the last ten years has made it to the finals of Purushottam Karandak, the city's most prestigious college level drama competition. It has been around two decades since the title glimmered in the showcase at college. Under such circumstances, it feels good to know that we have a fighting chance.

So what does any of that have to do with this piece of literature? Well, I have been fortunate enough to be on that Purushottam team- and will now share what went on behind the scenes in the last few days before the first round show. The team of writers from college thought that it would help the flow of the storyline if we were to introduce a certain character who could bring out the transformation of the lead actor. And bless their holy stars (or you could wonder which cruel act of the devil led them to this juncture), they picked me. That was a gamble. With under a week to go to D-Day, it would have been catastrophic if for some reason that plan backfired. It didn't. The show went off well and I'm still alive.

So here we have an enthu newbie on stage who's horrid at acting. Well, its actually painful to see him amble, emote or simply talk on stage. In such a situation, the whole team must come to his help and lift him up from the dregs of mediocrity, self doubt and complete lack of talent. Imagine, trying to infuse talent into a 20 year old- but they did that. As I tried helplessly to learn up my lines, a hint here or a word of advice there were constantly at hand. Finally the situation got so desperate that they said

"We'll microdirect this. You learn your lines and leave the puppeteering to us"

What would otherwise have taken an accomplished stage performer no more than two hours, those poor souls tried to bring in my acting over 3 days. A brief set of instructions that I received during the course of one of our sittings follows:

Team Member: The diction is all wrong. You're not supposed to be sympathetic. You're the practical dude of the story. Hakuna Matata. You're the guy who made the NatGeo job. Bring that flamboyance and that arrogance into the role.

One: Ok, whatever that's supposed to mean??!!! Ok, I'll try. here goes.

( I try in vain. T shakes her head in despair)

T: Let's try that again shall we.

O: OK

(I go at it again)

T: Never mind. Just say it the way I say it.

(and so i chirp along)

T: Okay. Now say "तू अस कस म्हनू शकतोस रे?" and then- look that way!

O: "तू अस कस म्हनू शकतोस रे?"

( this line is followed by a violent jerk of my head in the opposite direction- drawing scandalous looks from T)

T: Good

O: Yeah Right. Really?

T: That was great. Just do the same thing on stage and we'll get through this.

After similar such choreography (spiked generously with threats) I was able to not embarrass myself or the team on stage and the show went off without incident.