The Qader Ali Baig Theatre Foundation under its ‘revival of quality theatre in Hyderabad’ umbrella often facilitates the showing of performances from around the world. Last night it was the Footsbarn Theatre from France attempting to give Shakespeare a Malayali accent.

The sets were amazing. Going with the flow of using white sheets and gauze to make up a layered backdrop that allowed shadow play of a very interesting nature, and also integrating levels by the construction of ramshackle props they were a lighting man’s delight. And allowed the celebration of space and form in full measure.

Just as the set was a fluid brushstroke on the wide open canvas of the Lalita Kala Thoranam, the artists too allowed their bodies a momentary lapse of reason and gave themselves to flight. The dialogs in malayaliased English and anglicized mallu made no sense but the body language and frequent English inserts and of course prior knowledge of the script helped.

The performance would have gone on to a logical finish if not for the weather Gods who seemed to have gotten upset that we humans were playing around with the forces of the Tempest:-)

Sadly we had to make a dash for shelter and then home through chaos, but what little we saw, we fully enjoyed. Pity that except for one or two, none of the other theatre stalwarts made even a courtesy appearance, but what the hell…c’est la vie.