Mumbai, May 04: Director Paritossh Painter’s latest play Get Rid of My Wife promises to be a laugh riot. In fact Painter says that his last play See no evil Hear no evil was so successful, that the audience begged to see more of the three protagonists – who were deaf, dumb and blind. Painter thanks his lucky stars and says, “We first did the part one of the play in 2006, and then came back with the second part in 2008. After that I got busy with my film assignments.
I sensed the audience wanted to see more of the three protagonists of my earlier plays.”
While appreciation of his work was evident, the director faced a dilemma — how would he retain a fresh flavour to his three characters who were now two plays old? “The play took six months to formulate. It was a big challenge. I asked myself — will the audience get bored? But I have just wrapped up a private show of the newest rendition and the audience has loved it.”
Get Rid Of My Wife, says Painter, is an out-and-out comedy, which remains the director’s favourite genre. He says, “I prefer comedy, that’s my forte. I don’t believe that after a hard day’s work, the audience wants to put on the thinking lights again in the theatre. They want simplified fun. I have quite a set audience for my plays that are attended both by children and older people. The play should be simple enough to be understood and enjoyed.”
Paritossh who is known for bringing television actors on to the stage says that doing so makes it easier for his product to sell. He explains, “The audience wants to see a face on the stage and it gets easier to market the play. As a director, your convincing power becomes more and the project becomes meatier.”
However, Painter says it brings along its own set of challenges. He points out, “For TV actors to adapt on stage becomes difficult. On TV, since it is a closer medium, the slightest reaction is registered on camera. Often, I need to remind my actors to be a little loud. The audience in the first and the 30th row need to perceive you alike.”
–Agencies