WHAT can a solo act of over two hours be compared with in any other art form? A Hindustani or Carnatic classical music recital? A dance performance, say Bharatnatyam or Odissi or Kathak? A piano concert? An act in a ballet? Dastangoi? But in any classical performance the audience is aware of what to expect—what makes it memorable is the virtuoso’s unique rendition of a raga or abhinaya or a Bach or a Beethoven. If we extend the art forms to sports, then maybe a gymnastic routine, a tennis match (it’s not strictly solo), a fiery spell by a fast bowler in a session of a Test match?
All of these can be riveting but to hold an entire auditorium for so long on a bare stage with no props (even Waiting of Godot at least has a tree), hardly any music or lighting, with just pure acting and voice modulation, to go on without a single fumble, a single false step or sour note, is an experience to behold. Director Rajat Kapoor and actor Vinay Pathak pull it off in their beloved ode to Shakespeare, Nothing Like Lear.
This story is from the December 21, 2024 edition of Outlook.
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This story is from the December 21, 2024 edition of Outlook.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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