A scene from the play The Nether. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Pune’s popular theater troupe Asakta Kalamancha, established in 2003, is back in Bengaluru this week with the play NetherlandsOn 24th and 25th January at Ranga Shankara, JP Nagar.

According to the synopsis of the play, directed by Mohit Takalkar, Netherlands A virtual wonderland that offers complete sensory immersion. The play talks about how the internet has evolved NetherlandsA vast network of virtual reality zones, where one logs in, chooses an identity, and fulfills one’s every whim.

When asked what attracted Mohit to direct Jennifer Haley Netherlands, He said that when he read the play in 2015 and found it to be exciting, challenging and disturbing at the same time. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

in dark corners

But when a young detective discovers a disturbing brand of entertainment, she begins to inquire into the darkest corners of the imagination. The play highlights how users discover that they have created an emotional attachment to their realm that turns them off from larger questions of ethical behavior in both the imagination and the outside world.

Written by Jennifer Haley, winner of the 2012 Susan Smith Blackburn Award Netherlands is both a complex crime drama and haunting sci-fi thriller that explores the consequences of living out one’s personal dreams.

When asked what attracted Mohit to direct Jennifer Haley Netherlands, He said that when he read the play in 2015 and found it to be exciting, challenging and disturbing at the same time.

“I had tried to do this play earlier but for some reason could not stage it. Jennifer started the play with a simple instruction as to what time period the play is set in, and she said ‘time-soon’, and this time period sounded like the Domb set before us. It made the game more intense for me. The debates he raised throughout the play about morality, ethics, legitimizing morbid fantasy and much more attracted me to direct the play,” he said.

The play explores the boundaries between fantasy and morality. When asked how the director presented these complex themes on stage, he said that contemporary digital culture which is limited to a common man is just the tip of the iceberg. Mohit said that presenting this play was a wonderful experience.

A view from the Netherlands Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Indian context

“When we started rehearsals we thought of adapting it to the Indian context, changing the names of the characters and bringing in more Indian context. But we realized it was going to be futile, the world has shrunk after the pandemic, everyone is on the same page when it comes to these areas and now it’s all pretty universal. We realized that anyone can connect with it and we went ahead with what was written,” he said.

“Rehearsal is where we work with the actors, and luckily I had a great group of talented actors with me. But to present this play, which has barely any stage directions, and to showcase the Netherlands to the world, the team of designers I had was very rich. It still seems inadequate for such a play, the more you do it, the more you will want it. There was no limit to it. We had references from the Victorian era and what people will be wearing 20 years from now, colours, details and more, which was a great learning,” he said.

With scenery by Sarthak Narula and Saras Kumar and costumes by Shilpi Aggarwal, the play is presented by Neil Bhoopalam, Vivek Madan, Ritasha Rathod, Prajesh Kashyap and Anjali Negi. Performed in English and open to audiences over 18 years of age, tickets for the show are available at Ranga Shankar Box-Office and BookMyShow.

This play will be played on 24th January at 7.30 pm and on 25th January at 3.30 pm and 7.30 pm.