'Detective Nau-Do-Gyarah' play review

Plot: A bored psychiatrist visits the Royal Opera House where he meets a pretty Russian spy and gets dragged into an absurd, yet hilarious journey full of mystery, drama and music

Review: Set in the Mumbai of the 40s, this play opens with Dr Shekhar Kapoor going out to watch a mentalist at a theatre. The show is interrupted when gunshots are fired and Shekhar ends up helping a damsel in distress who turns out to be a spy. This incident turns his world upside down and sets him on a whirlwind ride.

The first thing you notice about the play is its restless pace. The actors move, almost like clockwork as they drag around props, mouth witty dialogues and keep the proceedings moving which builds up tension as the play moves forward. Director Atul Kumar, inspired by all things noir including movies by Alfred Hitchcock and Indian films from the 50s like 'CID', 'Baazi' and the likes, masterfully recreates a lost era in which his play is set. He has also put together a live jazz band that elevates the experience and adds to the intrigue. Another interesting element is how he uses space in the play, recreating railway compartments, dim-lit street corners, and opera houses faster than you can keep track. The chase sequences especially are hilarious.

There is a terrific sync between actors, that can only have come from hours of rehearsals, as they toss caps, chase each other as they entrap you in their story. There is a lot of physical comedy that is clearly a homage to Charlie Chaplin’s films. In fact, the entire play is set-up like a noir film. For those with a wavering attention span, it may get tough to keep track because there is so much happening. Again, it is that restless energy with which the play brims, that makes it a delight to watch. It’s the humour though, that keeps things lively, and lightens up the proceedings in this spectacular murder mystery.