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Macbeth, Padamsee style
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Alyque Padamsee's extravagant version lends a tantric touch to the tragedy
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DARK AND METAPHYSICAL from "Mecbeth"
After 70 plays, Alyque Padamsee is back to what he loves staging the most — William Shakespeare. Produced by his daughter Raëll Padamsee, "Macbeth," one of the great Shakespearean tragedies, is being interpreted from the point of view of the Indian metaphysical philosophy of tantra. Inspired by a book that discusses similarities between tantra and European witchcraft, Padamsee's "Macbeth" will have Lady Macbeth as the protagonist, who conjures up the three witches at will.
The play promises to be spectacular in its sets and lights. Lushin Dubey plays Lady Macbeth and Vijay Crishna plays Macbeth. Set designer Fali Unwalla has used tantric elements to create the sets. Louis Banks has made an original soundtrack using Raag Deepak to convey the darker tones of the play. Tarun Tahiliani has done the costumes. Subhojit Dasgupta is the adviser on the tantric elements of the play.
Raëll Padamsee explains about the tantra element, which sets this "Macbeth" apart from other adaptations, "It is an artistic interpretation. We worked with Subhojit and it was a nice learning experience for us. The power play between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth is shown through tantra elements." Regarding the production, she says it was "monstrously difficult," but since all the persons and sponsors were forthcoming, the play could be made as it has been.
Unlike the usually staged versions, it is Lady Macbeth who is the central force of the play. Representing Shakti, the female force, she summons the witches and is instrumental in changing Macbeth's mind. However, as the play progresses, the lady who has given her energies to Macbeth, representing Shiva, is drained and her nemesis is inevitable. Though the production draws from the philosophy of tantra, the play has not touched Shakespeare's original writing.
PRACHI PINGLAY
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