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Dance Like A Man

By Mahesh Dattani
Directed by Lillete Dubey

WITH: Suchitra Pillai (Lata and younger Ratna), Joy Sengupta (Viswas and younger Jairaj), Vijay Crishna (Older Jairaj and Amritlal Parekh) and Lillete Dubey (Older Ratna).

This is a beautifully written play by Mahesh Dattani that follows the lives of two Bharatanatyam dancers and their passion for their craft.

The story begins by introducing the audience to a young couple, Lata and Viswas who are carefree, excited and very much in love. Lata brings her male suitor, Viswas for the very first time to meet with her parents. Viswas comes from a business family and dancing and the arts are not a part of their lives. He is completely infatuated with Lata and finds her passion for dancing amusing.

Lata is the daughter of Ratna and Jairaj, a couple who have been Bharatnatyam dancers since youth but not spectacularly successful ones – “we lacked the brilliance and magic to dance like gods,’ they confess sorrowfully at the end have placed all their hopes in the success of their daughter Lata.

The play expertly takes us back on forth between the present day situation of Lata and Viswas and the past events that have moulded Ratna and Jairaj into the people they are today.

The themes presented in the play and the problems faced by the family in the present time and in the past are reflective of many issues present in the lives of families today regardless of religion or nationality.

As young adults we are determined to do what we believe is right regardless of the advice our parents shower upon us – this is the conflict faced by the younger Jairaj and his father Amritlal Parekh. Jairaj is determined to become a successful dancer, whereas Amritlal feel’s that Jairaj’s dancing is just a passing phase and that he needs to grow up and make something of himself.

There are many parents who want to experience the joys of success through their children. Ratna and Jairaj have fostered their daughter so that she can one day become a successful dancer that they themselves could not. Ratna sees herself in Lata. She is determined for Lata to become a highly valued and international success. When Lata begins to gain recognition for her art, Ratna becomes envious of her daughter’s success.

The direction, the acting, the sounds and the stage setting are remarkably done and allow the audience to travel between the past and present worlds of Jairaj and Ratna. The actors’ passions for their roles allow us to feel their torment, their love, their frustration and at times their joy.

Leaving the play I felt a number of emotions. I could easily relate with many of the characters and their troubles. This is one of the best plays to come from India. The themes and issues explored in the play were relevant yesterday and will be relevant today and tomorrow.

If you have the opportunity to see the expert performances of Lillette Dubey and Vijay Crishna take advantage as it will be an experience not to be missed.

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