Taking the mickey out of social media
AFTER a five-year hiatus, husband and wife team Kajal Maharaj and Nesan Pather are returning to the stage with the comedy Selfie, conceived by award-winning director Clinton Marius.
Selfie is a satire, mirroring social media and celebrity culture through the eyes of “Kammi K”, played by Maharaj, and “Hashen”, played by Pather.
Maharaj described her character as the epitome of the millennial social media personality.
“Kammi K is self-obsessed. Her popularity is her ultimate concern. She is indicative of this generation’s obsession with social media,” she said.
Since it takes two to capture the perfect selfie, Kammi K’s partner and best friend, Hashen, is described by Maharaj as the unsung hero behind the perfect pictures, and is responsible for capturing “staged” real-life moments for life on social media.
Selfie is not your typical stage production as it breaks away from theatre etiquette and encourages the audience to use their cellphones during its progression.
“We teach you how to become a self-made social media superstar. Kammi K will be providing beauty and exercise tips from her new book, as well as doing a live make-over and giving away gifts to our audience,” explained Maharaj.
The theatre production is part of a web series of the same name that was released at the beginning of the month. The series is online and features famous personalities.
Maharaj explained that the web series, like its stage production, is a comical take on the obsession people have with social media platforms such as Insta Stories, Snapchat and Facebook.
“We poke fun at this current state and pass on the message that people need to love themselves and be comfortable with who they are, and not who they present to Selfie, to be staged at the Pavilion Hotel on April 1. the world,” she said.
Season one will see 12 episodes produced. So far, Maharaj said, the audience reviews were great. “They love the witty humour and elegance of the show.
“The younger generation has said that they really relate to it as it has a global feel that really speaks to them.”
Through Selfie, the web-series, Maharaj said she hoped to cast a mirror back on social media and societal norms.
“The constant pressure, from the perfect pictures, beauty tutorials and the ideal life portrayed on social media platforms is overplayed, and hopefully Selfie will help people see the humour in their daily actions and thoughts.”
She said returning to the stage had been incredibly exciting and that it felt “like riding a bicycle again”.
The show, which is not age restricted, will take place at the Pavilion Hotel on April 1. Tickets are available from web tickets.