Theatre has a knack for creating a visceral impact on its audience. The reason: it offers the most direct form of interaction with characters in a story. You can’t say the same about television or films where some characters are more fascinating than others.
Waleed Zaidi and Sheherzade Noor Peerzada star as Roger and Helen, while Shah Fahad and Mahnoor Khan star as Geoff and Sally. The hotel staffer, Ferris, was effortlessly played by Shaan Lashari.
COMICRELIEF
Adapted from Derek Benfield’s script, the theatre production offers a hilarious take on extramarital affairs.
Karachi
Theatre has a knack for creating a visceral impact on its audience. The reason: it offers the most direct form of interaction with characters in a story. You can’t say the same about television or films where some characters are more fascinating than others.
What is important to remember though is that theatre is not always about the message it imparts. In some instances, the purpose is to provide pure, unfiltered entertainment and that was the mission with which Dawar Lashari’s latest adapted production, Date Night, was launched.
Having made Lahore their home by performing in the cultural city for over a decade, with Date Night, Dawar Lashari and team finally made their way into the Karachi theatre scene and managed to impress all those who caught the show.
Date Night was being performed at the Karachi Arts Council from August 18 till August 27, and is heading to Islamabad next. And as for the play, it had plenty to offer.
Adapted from Derek Benfield’s script, Date Night had been adapted into an English comedy musical that tells the story of two married couples who are having an extramarital affair with each other’s spouses. While their spouses are away, they plan a two-day trip to England with their boyfriend/girlfriend but things go awry when they bump into their better halves there. How the four individuals handle the situation to save themselves is the crux of the play.
The 100 minutes long show offers a hilarious take on extramarital affairs. The script was funny as were the jokes; the performances from the ensemble cast remained a highpoint. Despite the duration of 1 hour and 20 minutes, there was not a single dull moment. The response was palpable as the auditorium was packed to capacity and those present could be seen laughing away without a care in that moment.
Date Night features five actors including two couples plus another individual who is shown to be on the staff of the hotel where these infidelity-loving couples stay.
Waleed Zaidi and Sheherzade Noor Peerzada star as Roger and Helen who make one married couple while Shah Fahad as Geoff and Mahnoor Khan as Sally make the other. The hotel staffer, Ferris, effortlessly played by Shaan Lashari, turns out to be their savior when they are forced to confront difficult situations.
Perhaps the only flaw with the production was that it didn’t have enough musical numbers given that it was a ‘musical’. There were only three dance sequences which lacked finesse.
Speaking to Instep on the sidelines of the show, director Dawar Lashari shared, “Karachi is amazing. We’re overwhelmed with the response we have gotten here. Since the script was originally set in England, I have modified it according to Pakistan and even from Lahore to Karachi, I had to adapt it. The audience in Lahore appreciates physical humour (that involves fights, slap, etc.) but viewers in Karachi like subtle humour. Our purpose was to entertain the audience. We haven’t inserted any message in the play on purpose. It’s just one hour 20 minutes comedy, that’s it.”
