Dubai’s theatre community brings Arsenic and Old Lace on stage

We get chatty with the cast and crew to know more.

It was like a riot of emotions behind-the-scenes and the cast promises to replicate it on stage as well. Simply put, Joseph Kesselring's Arsenic and Old Lace is for those with insane genes. Pardon our frankness, but how else can one describe a series of events that start on a happy note of a young man visiting his spinster aunts to announce his engagement, only to find out that the aunts (all this while) have been occupied with the task of poising lonely old men! Task at hand, to bury the newest victim. Did we just pique your curiosity? In an attempt to know what happens next and in between, we get chatty with the cast staging the show in Dubai this weekend.

Director's take
Kailash Nair's last play as a director was an intense drama. "I was keen to do something lighter. I had been nurturing Arsenic and Old Lace for sometime, but I knew that executing a play with a huge canvas like this (think: a big cast and a elaborate set and costumes) can be done only with a detail-obsessed producer." Stepped in Humera Sultana, who's making her debut as a producer, for whom wearing the hat was an impromptu decision, "One night, three friends decided to put up a show, and voila I got involved," she says.
Humera is the lady to be credited for the fitting costumes. "She made it her life's mission to dress-up everyone in the hues of the roles they enact," says Kailash.
A 13-member cast isn't easy to work with, "Oh, it had its moments. The biggest challenge was scheduling the rehearsals. All of us have day jobs, which requires of us to squeeze in passion for the craft in our limited personal time." But, that wasn't only the challenge for him - the other unexpected being, "Putting up a comedy is serious business. It's no joke!"
It goes without saying that the show is an amalgamation of creative energies of people with different backgrounds and nationalities. "At the end of the day, we all speak the same language - theatre. Over rehearsals, we all experienced beautiful camaraderie - I think this is a reflection of Dubai, a global city," says Kailash.
For Sabiha Majgaonkar, founder, Orb Theatricals (the local theatre company behind the show), "Comedies are classics. Plus, it is our first full-length production and I wanted it be grand."

Mixed crew
She labels the production as one, which brings on stage not only a mix of nationalities, but also varying levels of theatrical experiences. An actor herself (she plays Martha Brewster), Sabiha confesses acting to be her first love, however, is quick to add, "I love theatre in totality and equally enjoy the other aspects as well."
Do they have favourite characters? "Mine would be  Dr. Einstein, he is both funny and evil," says Humera.
Whilst, you are likely to find similarities between the 1944 movie and its 2017 stage production, the show aspires to leave you surprised. After all, there's nothing more charming than live arts. Right?
Show details:
Book your tickets at tixbox.com: The two-hour show will be performed on 30 (8pm, Dh60) and 31 March and 1 April (2.30pm and 7.30pm, Dh100) at The Junction, Al Serkel Avenue
Meet the cast:
Sarah Potter, Abby Brewster
"Dramatic irony within the audience and the world of the play - there are layers upon layers of moments where the audience knows something a character doesn't know and then moments where a character doesn't know something about another that the audience doesn't either. But that's me over analysing it all - there are standout moments of pure comedy too - both verbally and physically - some actors literally bend over forwards for comedic effect!"
Anna Z Alexandra, lead actress
"I love the innocence, insanity, and light-heartedness of the play in its entirety!"
Dee Gee, Jonathan Brewster
"I believe comedy is my forte and I absolutely love bringing dark comedy to life. Each character in the play is distinct from the other - courtesy of Joseph Kesselring's magical writing. Kailash (director) asked me to write a cunning letter to my family - the exercise helped me understand Jonathan and his relationship with the family quite well."
Ajay Simha, Teddy Brewster
"I love the script for its comic with a dash of suspense and pinch of emotional drama."
Ryan D'sa, Rev. Dr. Harper
"My favourite element has to be comedy. There are a lot of dialogues that aren't funny with the intent that it is emulated from the character, but the mood and situation brings out the comedy. I'm playing a character many years, rather several decades my senior, with a grown up daughter to boot - that did take some getting used to."
Zille Rehman, Officer O'Hara
"We spent days and hours talking about the characters and how to bring them alive. Kailash (director) gave us full liberty on interpretation, whilst helping us to get the characters spot on. We walked (ran) about the stage to feel the space, to get the posture right (for me, personally), certain words and their pronunciation, the tone of our voice, etc."
Anna Z Alexandra, Elaine Harper
"I had done my actor's homework about the character, but I began to panic during rehearsals, for the fear of not getting it right. At that time, I watched an interview with Naomie Harris and her technique of imagining oneself in the character and answering specific questions about one's life like - 'Who was your best friend when you were 8?' or 'Do you have any nicknames?' etc. It really helped me with transforming into the character. Understanding the 1940s was very important as well. I spent time trying to understand women of that time, how they carried themselves, the fashion trends of that time, music they heard to. Music is a great tool of getting the feel and 'rhythm' of the time!"
Ian Halstead,Mortimer Brewster
"Our ingredients are ourselves, and regardless of what is eventually used or not, kept or shelved, whatever seems to work or doesn't - what we have to contribute to our communal cauldron comes from more than just different perspectives, work ethics and ideologies. Refreshing and challenging - it comes from different cultures and histories - finding common ground, respecting that which isn't common - and valuing everything in between. Art in every form belongs to the art of itself; we are the mediums, the muses, the masters of our own madness - and sharing that madness as equal partakers, is what I feel to be truly and most beautifully human.
purva@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai