I know, the title is very misleading, but i really need to write this down, my experience with Lights Off and Pause, without whom i would never had the chance to act in this wonderful play called “Bedtime Stories”.

It all started with Abraham telling me about a theatre workshop being held in M.S. Ramiah college around 6 months back. I thought it would help me with my filmmaking, so i joined. I just loved the whole experience mainly because of Siddhanth, our theatre instructor. He also liked my short films and asked me to edit his film sometime. 

And a few weeks later, he called and told me about Ice Cream, his short film. Ice cream was really fun, and then one day..it happened. Siddhanth mentioned Bedtime Stories to me, and offered me a role in it. He sent me the script, i read it and loved it. I could obviously guess which part i was going to play, and that was of the young, college going “Sid”.

Here is a synopisis of the play:

“Meet Radhika and Siddharth- two young vibrant and individualistic people who once dated. They then got married and eventually got bored. Presently they are happily (and sometimes unhappily) divorced. Join them as they take you to three important phases of their stupid lives. Laugh at their ignorance when they were in college. Chuckle at their urge to stay with each other when they were married and cry when you see their love leaving them when they got bored.

Bedtime stories is about the various intimacy quotients of any Indian couples life. Travel along with Siddharth and Radhika and find out how good or bad the journey is or was.”

I just loooved the script (all thanks to pdg, Priyanka Dasgupta), and practice began in march. Thats when i met my co-actor Jinke Marina (name changed due to privacy) . Even though there was a considerable age gap between us (around 10-15 years i guess) she behaved as if she was 16. The first few weeks of practice werent up to the mark as we were not getting the chemistry right. Some of the reasons are as follows:

1) I believe that going out with women 10 years older than you is a taboo.

2) She claimed that i was dead inside.

3)She really has grey hair (i can prove it).

4)She claimed i was from another planet and did not understand human emtions. (More like the role of Keanue Reeves in “The day the earth stood still”, but obviously i am better looking.)

So, Siddhanth was obviously going mad hearing our stupid excuse’s for not acting.  Thats where Naveen (the assistant director) came in. He helped me a lot with my acting. Almost after 3 weeks of practice we still didn’t interact with the other cast and crew of beditme stories. Thats when we had a long cast and crew meeting, which was absolutely brilliant because it was so interesting and informative (cough).

Anywho, i finally met Umang and Shauna (U&S) ,the actors who played the yound Sid and radhika when Bedtime Stories was staged last year. I had read a review about Bedtime Stories,  where U&S performances where highly applauded. So, i had some really big shoes to fill. I still wont forget the advice umang gave me “Be stupid and gay, you will be fine”. And thats what i still follow..lol..thanks Umang.

Then slowly, as we saw each other acting out our scenes, my scene with Jinke Marina also started improving (even though she still behaves like  Madonna to this day). We also had a fantastic Launch part at Nyx , where we danced like there was no tommorrow  ( A few people were sadly brain damaged after watching Tanu dance, viewer descretion is advised.)

It was slowly starting to dawn on us that the play day was approaching soon, there were many sleep less nights (Sid on the phone, while i was on the comp designing the Brochure and tickets).

And then finally, April 11th came.

I reached Chowdiah at 2 pm, it was the first time i had been to chowdiah, hell first time i had ever been to a play. The PAUSE crew as usual was completly focused with their work, while the actors were freaking out.

When i entered and saw the stage and the 1000 seats, i really wished i had that “Butterflies in my stomach” feeling, the feeling you get just before you go talk to that girl you had a crush on….but that didnt happen. Actually i didn’t feel anything, i was so freaking excited, and all other emotions were told to F%$# off.

We went to the green room (just like you see in the movies), and got ready with our costumes. My co-actor Suni..err..i mean Jinke Marina was clearly tensed, i mean it happens..Acting next to me can be so damn stressfull.

Anywho, as you know, the Overoptimistic and Overconfident self  i am, the only thing i was thinking was about getting some bling-bling because i was desperate for the audience attention. After my light make up (which was basically washing my face with soap water), we were ready to get on stage.

All my college friends had arrived (thanks to Abraham, love you dudE). The lights went on, and Prakriti announced “Ladies and Gentlemen…”, i felt like i needed to take a crap real bad (i know, i hate that feeling). 

Sid and Ritika went on stage and started the play, suprisingly the crowd was very responsive and were laughing for the funny bits (and the not so funny bits).

Then came our cue, The lights went out and Jinke Marina went and sat on the park bench (our set on stage) and got ready. The lights came on, and i went on stage. And well, the rest they say is history…

The first show at 5:30 went very well, and then the next show at 7:30 was good too. Umang and Shauna were lovely to watch (yup, i was in the audience), the whole play was a treat to watch. The lights and music were amazing!

Its hard to describe, but i loved being on stage, loved being part of this amazing play, loved meeting the people from Lights off and the highly enthusiastic girls from PAUSE. I am glad for every single moment..i am getting so emtional and gay right now i should stop..

Its not over yet, there’s an after party soon…will write about that too…cya soon..

ps: i will post the videos from the play soon..