Afsane-The Nautanki

Caught a play in Mumbai after long. Had never been to Prithvi before this. The place is more a bungalow converted into a stage rather then a "theatre". The ambiance feels quite nice though. Kinda like a classroom. Intimate. With sets where the Prof. would have stood. Be on time, queque up to to enter first for the best seats (no seat numbers assigned), switch off mobiles, no talking-whispering-giggling except when the script tell u to-said the instructions. 50 odd people for the first day in class. Strangers. Rushing in for the best chunk of seats for self. Once done, demurely gazing around to see if their flusterings have offended any one. Gentlefolk. Unexpectedly thrown together yet sitting expectedly for the ice to break.

Still some time to go before class starts. Who are these folks around? None look like people who have to rush to work tomorrow at 7 am. They wouldnt have caught the 9PM show otherwise, one reasons. Dim lights. No uneasy conversations happen. No introductions are given. A lone candle in a red vase placed at the center throws flickering shadows around. The early arrivals walk back to the loo in the dark by trying to create non-existent space in the aisles. They are met by late comers trying to do the same in the opposite direction. People seated irritatedly slip legs back on sandals shoving them beneath seats to avoid getting crushed. Soothing kothi type piped music on speakers. Late comers groan eying their corner seats.
The sense of expectations suddenly rises. People hush. Lights dim further(didnt think that was possible), music alters. The curtain rises.

The show begins. No introductions are given there either.