Written by: Anas Mehmood
Posted on: May 20, 2015 | 
Peter and his father take center stage in the opening scene
Being performed over the course of two weeks from May 14th till 28th, the play is a bona fide depiction of what goes on inside every run-of-the-mill household, with individuals striving to come up with strong, independent identities to express themselves outside of their family name. The play commences with an argument between two of the main characters. Peter’s father ridicules him by constantly reminding him that he has been kicked out of university; a last resort opted for by the old man each time he finds himself losing an argument. This belligerent father is the most influential character in the play. He is distraught by his repeated failure to become a mayor, and disappointed in his young daughter, who has not attracted any suitors for herself.
One noteworthy aspect of the play is its use of well-crafted dialogues that are lusciously Urdu in nature, with dark satire and intelligent wordplay that is sure to keep you engaged throughout. Most of the puns and innuendoes are meant to make the audience feel the harshness and abrasiveness of real life. At other instances, though, the ironic situations and well-placed dialogues were of a humorous nature, inducing fits of laughter into the jam-packed NAPA auditorium. “Mein itni khush kyun rehti hoon?” “Kyunkay tumhara naam aurat hai” and “Baaz logon ko ilm bohat nuqsan pohanchata hai” are two such examples of the play’s tongue-in-cheek humor.
The plot thickens as more characters add to the mishmash in a house that is already in shambles. One particularly strong character is that of Elena, also referred to as ‘Rani Sahiba’. She is a tenant in the house who is seen openly flirting with Peter, to the strong disapproval of his father. Two love stories are also seen clinging to life in the face of opposition and hardships. Neil, Peter’s brother, fires up proceedings by asking Polia’s hand in marriage. If all this weren’t enough, Polia’s unstable father Purchigan contributes to the madness by jumping in with his delusions, ill-timed jokes and sarcasms. Frequently referred to as ‘Chirimaar’, this character delivered the most uproarious performance, eliciting constant laughter in the crowd.
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