"The Prophet and The Poet"
Shunya Theatre’s run of six performances of “The Prophet and the Poet” by Vijay Padaki begins tonight.
It’s worth your while to take in a performance: Shunya focuses on bringing alive Padaki’s portrayal of Gandhi and Tagore’s ideals and points of view – often diverging – written in letters to each other over the course of 25 years. Padaki will join in the “talk back” that director Yaksha Bhatt, the cast and crew will engage the audience in following tonight’s performance. The playwright is in Houston this week, guiding the troupe through their final dress rehearsals and attending the premiere.
I was invited to sit in on last night’s dress rehearsal – and once again, I’m awed by how a non-profit theater company with a desi focus has sustained itself in Houston, nearly a decade since its inception. As I’ve mentioned before, the artists of Shunya Theatre value and nurture their creativity.
It’s a true labor of love.
***
In an age when the art of letter writing has been supplanted by emails and texts, the cast and crew make current a relationship sustained through hand-written letters. AbhiRoy Cheema and Aurko Dutt act the roles of scholars examining Gandhi and Tagore’s letters, respectively. Anjana Menon weaves their correspondence together and offers historical insights, as the omniscient narrator.
The prophet and the poet’s correspondence stands on its own as the main character of the play. Padaki removes focus from Gandhi and Tagore’s renowned personalities with a number of devices: rather than their names, oblique references to Gandhi and Tagore’s historical socio-political roles in the play’s title, and writing parts not for the venerables themselves, but rather for scholars of their letters.
***
With gently-shared insights and a wealth of knowledge and nuances of history, the playwright shared some final thoughts at last night’s dress rehearsal for making a solid show exquisite – then proceeded to invite the troupe to perform outside of Houston. The cast and crew’s eyes lit up with delight and purpose, squaring their shoulders to take on the challenge.
I’m not surprised. With a minimal set, understated staging, subtle lighting and understated music, Gandhi and Tagore’s correspondence remains the focus – just enough, and as it should be.
I was mesmerized. Even the steady rain drumming against Barnvelder‘s roof receded from my notice – and that’s no mean feat, given how sweet it is to hear rainfall after months of drought.
History is often presented as a dry collection of dates and facts – here’s your opportunity to find yourself present in the past through the beauty of art. It’s my hope that the Houston audience enjoys “The Prophet and the Poet” and actively supports Shunya Theatre continue in “providing a voice to the South Asian American experience through the visual and performing arts” as they take the show on the road.
***
Tickets are available through Shunya Theatre‘s website.
Top image by Lynn Ghose Cabrera
About the Author
Lynn Ghose Cabrera Has Written 30 Articles For Us!
