THE BEST Medicine
In these hyper-sensitive times, Laughter Therapy is truly therapeutic. A play that can laugh at the idiosyncrasies of various communities, without ruffling feathers, works as a wake-up call to regain our sense of humour about ourselves.
Mahesh, a vegetarian, yoga-practising Hindu; Victor, a beer-guzzling, chick-gazing Christian; Mohammad, a gun-phobic Muslim; and Siganporia, a pompous Parsi—find themselves thrown together in a reformatory clinic run by one Dr Bombay. Speaking various versions of Bambaiya lingo, the characters take nasty pot-shots at each other, with the cathartic effect of making viewers laugh at themselves, even as they crack up at the shenanigans on stage. The play also turns stereotypes upside down. Two Muslims outdo the Hindus dancing in a Ganesh Chaturthi procession, a Parsi Customs officer confiscates from passengers goods that he lacks at home, and a leg-flaunting Muslim girl is a far cry from a hijabwearing traditionalist.
Apart from the racily written dialogues by writer-director Meherzad Patel, what makes this comedy by Silly Point Productions a laugh riot are the marvellous performances by a cast that plays multiple roles.
Danesh Irani’s portrayal of a swaggering, middleaged Parsi—the butt of many of the play’s jokes—is so convincing that it makes you question whether the actor is really just 27. With equal aplomb, Danesh Khambata plays an earnest Hindu, a natty homosexual, a devout Muslim and a Christian alcoholic. Siddharth Merchant is a complete natural, playing Victor from Goa, while Sajeel Parakh plays the timid Mohammad with endearing innocence. Television actor Mona Singh portrays Dr Bombay as well as a diverse set of characters, some stereotypical, some going against the grain, slipping in and out of each of them effortlessly.
Laughter Therapy is the perfect prescription for maniacal fanatics tearing the country apart. The play will be staged on July 15 at the Tata Theatre, NCPA, and July 29 at the St Andrews auditorium in Mumbai.
The play laughs at the idiosyncrasies of various communities, without ruffling feathers