1 week Ago By Anjali Jhangiani
Pune: Theatre veteran Lillete Dubey 's play Dance Like a Man stands as a testament to enduring storytelling. The production is set to be staged on Nov 17 at the Nehru Memorial Hall in Camp. It's remarkable that 30 years after its debut, the play's exploration of gender roles and societal expectations continues to resonate with audiences.
Mahesh Dattani 's masterful script tackles the complex intersection of art, gender and tradition through Bharatanatyam , while Dubey's direction maintains its sharp edge. What started as a bold experiment in the early 1990s blossomed into a theatrical phenomenon, with over 680 performances to its credit and showing no signs of slowing down. "When I started The Primetime Theatre Company, I specifically wanted to do Indian plays in English.
Original works, and not adaptations, that captured how India's urban population speaks and thinks," said Dubey, who produces and directs the play, while also starring in it as Ratna. "People tried to talk me out of it, asking who would be interested in a play about a man doing Bharatanatyam?" Dubey said, with a knowing smile. "I believed if it impressed me, there would be others who would connect with it.
All I had to do was convey my passion for the play through my work so it reaches the audience," she added. Time proved her right. The production garnered multiple generations of viewers — from those who have watched it in their youth to their children, who are discovering it.
The themes of artistic passion versus societal expectations continue to touch hearts across cultural and geographical boundaries, with successful shows in Auckland, the US and beyond. The production evolved organically with its performers. "I'm not the same person I was when it started.
I have more life experience now, so I feel certain things more strongly. I was in my early 40s when the play started and played someone who was 60 years old. I realised there are no stereotypes for this stage of life, having reached my character's age in reality.
" The play became such a family affair that it inspired an inside joke within the Dubeys and the theatre troupe. "My daughters say this play is never going to close. When I get too old to play Ratna, my elder daughter Ira will take up the role, followed by the younger one Neha — it's becoming our family's ‘Mousetrap'," said Dubey.
The production is set to approach its 700th show milestone early next year and continues to maintain its freshness through diligent attention to detail. "I still give notes to all actors after every performance, even though they are well-seasoned seniors now. It's crucial to not become mechanical or complacent with performance," Dubey added.
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