Kingdom of Dreams in Gurgaon recently unveiled its new show called Wizwits, and the launch has been quite a success. Rama Dwivedi reviews the new theatre and show
In a setting that seems just out of a George Milies’ fantasy film, the piano called Phillip plays on its own and Jojo is a dancing vase; the bat-like dressed witches prey on the children and the hotel manager resembles Jack Sparrow. Welcome to the Poo Pot hotel where ‘We are funkdunctious, children are scrumptious…,’ sing Wizwits in the opening sequence of Kingdom of Dream’s brand new show with the same name.
Expanding in the territory of live entertainment industry, Great Indian Nautanki Company’s KOD showcased its new fantasy show Wizwits at the ShowShaa theatre on the occasion of its fourth anniversary. Adapted from Roald Dahl’s story The Witches, the show is tailored for children above six years of age. Brought to life by the efforts of the seasoned theatre personalities lushin Dubey and Bubbles Sabharwal, Wizwits aims at taking a giant leap as far as theatre is concerned. “We have spent over two decades in the theatre and still feel there is lot more to do,” Bubbles Sabharwal, who has always wanted to create a space for children in theatres, says.
The act takes you on a wacky tour by staging the encounter between a group of children with the ugly witches and wizards who are holding their conclave. The plot gradually unfolds as the Wizwits who detest children hatch a plan to decimate them by turning them into rats while humming the tunes of dig diggity da da da. Their plan backfires. Entertaining, energetic and yet with a moral message that ‘good always triumphs over the evil’, Wizwits is a show with the underlying theme of fearlessness. “The essence of our work is the spirit of being bold and fearless. You see confident children acting on the stage, that’s what I always wanted to see,” lushin Dubey tells us.
Five- year old Nargis, who is the youngest actor of the lot, tells us how theatre is fun: “I love delivering dialogues and dancing on the stage. We have been practicing for over a year.” Though it is tough to manage studies and Wizwits at the same time, the actors tell us how they get a friendly environment at school and work as well. “We have extra classes at school that helps us to catch up with studies. Working here is never hectic as we enjoy each and every moment spent at KOD,” 12-year-old Vansh, tells you.
Despite the fact that Dubey has always performed on stage with minimal technology at hand, she believes it is always judicious to move at pace with time and technology.
“I understand the purist attitude towards art forms. But when we have the infrastructure why not use it! This is a conjunction where the western style of story-telling mingles with our native values,” she says. Best known for her association with Arvind Gaur’s theatre club, she will soon be screening her fourth solo act in Patna.
A venue studded with screens on both the sides and an extravagant set surmounted with lED lights, ShowShaa theatre gives ample opportunity to the performers to woo audiences. “I got scared when the witches tumbled down the stage. One of them even came to me to take a sniff. But I enjoyed the songs and choreography,” seven-year-old Taraksh from the audience says.
Wizwits will play at ShowShaa theatre on the weekdays at 12:30 pm and 6:00 pm and on weekends at 6:00pm only.
