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CITYZEN REVIEWS

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PHOTO: S.R. RAGHUNATHAN

A TWIST IN THE TALE `Ms. Meena'

Directing a play within a play is not an easy task. Especially, when the play within is a substandard event! In this case, it is a hyper-melodramatic film shooting of Ms. Meena coming to avenge the humiliations she faced in her home town.

Whereas the primary play tries to envisage well-etched caricatures of a desolate Pichampuram grappling with the demands of its ex-resident, the portrayal of the film shooting works on the conventional stereotypes of an uncouth and heartless film community producing junk fare for the masses. Exaggerated acting functions well only with rigorous stylisation, and mixing the two is a perilous path to trod. As a lover of Indian cinema, I wish ‘Ms Meena' had made some sensitive departures. And yet, there is no denying that the performances were outstanding, and registering, I'm sure, months of hard work and keen attention to props, costumes and choreography.

K. Hariharan

Saligramam

Perch's ‘Ms. Meena' managed to combine street theatre, cinema, excellent music and an incredibly creative use of props into a play where the comic timing was impeccable.

My favourite part of the play, apart from the great singing and movie-worthy sequences, was the incredible use of props, from the plastic wrap waterfall to the place of worship.

Dhiya Kuriakose

Annanagar East

The way the cast constructed a statue of Ganesha, the simulation of the train and the bus and the slow-motion sequences made an impact. The excellent use of stage space and time made the 100-minute play a breeze.

Harish Ramaswamy

Adyar

Mirroring life

I wonder what Aristotle would have to say about ‘Ms. Meena'. For a legend who believed in the supremacy of tragedy, the lowliness of comedy and the inferior nature of women, this play would have been a breakdown. Thankfully, dark comedy now ceases to be an alien genre. It reflects an amalgamation of sorts — often mirroring the quality of life itself.

‘Ms. Meena' achieved that in more ways than one. The props that became characters in themselves, a cast that donned multiple roles to perfection, music interludes… At a larger level, the play asks socially-relevant questions of a wronged subject and her quest for revenge — can justice be bought?

Niharika M

Saligramam

Wholesome theatre

She came, she saw, she conquered. Quite literally, ‘Miss Meena' did all that and more. There were scintillating performances from the skilled cast, who doubled up as musicians, wind and percussion instruments, and sometimes as props too! But the scenes parodying films, though ingenious, tended to drag a bit. This play was pure, wholesome theatre craft.

Vinodhini Vaidynathan

Mandaveli

It was a sheer delight watching ‘Ms. Meena' for its natural humour, foot-tapping music and imaginative props. The mix-up of languages in an English play is a clever ploy to connect with the native audience instantly; yet, that did not mar the sophistication of the play, especially its lyrical and musical aspects. It has the pathos when Ms. Meena punishes her ex-lover, but has hilarious scenes too.

S. Viswanathan ('Charukesi')

Abiramapuram I Street

Comedy, tragedy, drama and an amazing use of props make ‘Ms. Meena' an all-out entertainer that subtly delves into the collective human psyche. Every scene is well thought out and unpredictable. Every actor delivers, and how! Right from the song-and-dance sequence in the beginning, the play transports you to Pichampuram and the excitement of a returning ‘superstar of superstars' in a mix of street Tamil, Hindi, English and Kannada.

Amritha Dinesh

Royapettah

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