Play Review: Flowers (8.5/10)

Points to note before you think of watching this one
1. It is a monologue (only one actor talking for long without an interval)
2. The actor is Rajit Kapur
3. The play is NOT for pure entertainment – it’ll make you think, NOT make you laugh even once
4. Don’t make this the first play you watch – you need a little bit of maturity and play-watching experience to be able to appreciate something like this
5. Make sure you watch this with good company – it’s important that the person sitting next to you is also able to appreciate it
6. When you do go to watch this, make sure you sit behind. Believe me, you will not regret it.

Girish Karnad captures the thoughts of a priest and flower decorator who is caught in the severe tug-of-war between his love for god and love for a courtesan. The priest has dedicated his entire life to the Shiv- ling in the kingdom temple, decorating it with flowers. His art is appreciated widely and so is his devotion and loyalty. Then one day a courtesan who visits the temple comes into his life and chaos unfolds. He is torn between his feelings for his wife, his devotion to the Shiv ling who he considers as his friend and guide, and his responsibility to the society. It is a situation which can make the strongest of people, fall down like a pack of cards. As Rajit Kapur narrates the events, you realize why the play is a monologue. Simply because the narration makes you imagine the story and other characters. That’s unique.

Rajit Kapur does a mind-blowing job as he submits himself to the character and spills his heart out to the audience. To single-handedly keep the audiences captivated, to remember line after line of top quality dialogues and to do it all making it look easy – that’s what makes Rajit Kapur one of the most respected theatre actors in the country.

The ambience created by the lights, set and background music is spectacular. Monologues require these details to be correct and they were. Watch out for the last scene – it’s like two parts of a mysterious painting.

Flowers is not merely a play. It is an experience. I should actually thank my friend who planned this, for making it a memorable one.