| 02 September 2010
Dance, music and colour combine in this inventive piece of theatre performed by Ankur Bahl. Exploring the blurred lines between illusion and reality, this is a quiet little play not afraid to take on complex ideas. The title character of Miranda is played by a male actor, claiming his character is 'half-man, half-woman'. Gender is not a central concern but these issues are implied in the way the narrative focuses on playing roles.
Miranda joins a mysterious touring theatre company who are rehearsing 'The Tempest' and finds herself falling in love with the man playing Ferdinand. Much like Shakespeare's play, the characters are somewhat stranded in Goa. Miranda wants to become a Bollywood star and the rest of the troupe is trapped in a different kind of predicament. To say more would be to spoil the strange twist.
Echoing many of the famous phrases from the source text allows the otherwise simple tale to take new forms. The actor uses a red rope to create spaces and emotions, a trick that helps to bring the other characters to life.
Aided by wonderful live musicians this celebration of Indian life and culture is something of an unexpected treat. See it before the revels are ended and these actors are melted into air.
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