A Play By Khemani Ali Shaan
Translator: Shoaib Hashmi
Writer: Peter Shaffer
Era: 1974
Funkaar Junction is an initiative by The Aga Khan Youth and Sports Board for Pakistan. The franchise aspires to inspire our young talents who have surplus amounts of potential in them to excel in the fields of Theatrical Arts and Film Production. The best part is that this platform provides a chance to meet some of the most experienced and creative heads in the field with honorable contacts to uplift the youth to pursue a career within the scope of visual & performing arts .
With our purpose being fulfilled by season 1.0 to generate interest regarding URDU THEATER, amongst the Youth, FUNKAAR JUNCTION 2.0 was a happening certainty. The bests of the best performers from season 1.0, combining in the meticulous direction and leadership of Khemani Ali Shaan and his team of directors to pull off the biggest performance to-date in Ismaili Youth Culture. No competition between different plays; just a single 90 minutes play. All the hype surrounds the lights out terminology.
The stage is set. The cast is up and running. To give you the best experience of LAUGH OUT LOTS in Peter Shaffer’s Play, Black Comedy.
Indeed, it was a wonderful performance and quite a perfect one too. But let me take you behind the scenes of what really happened in these 13 months.
The play is a one-act farce, in which a certain under achieving painter Abbas becomes a white liar to impress a millionaire art collector Saeth Ibrahim. He steals some of the antique sculptures and furniture from the neighboring Safdar Khurrdam, a gay royal owner of a china shop. His accomplice is Ambreen; His prospect fiancée whose father SP Abul Hassan is also coming to meet them and decide their future tonight. Everything goes as planned until the lights go out. Things then begin to slide into a disaster as Khurrdam returns from his journey early, while Abbas’ ex-girlfriend Neelofer shows up unexpectedly. The whole commotion leads to a twisted tale as Abbas dwindles between his love butterflies and career. To add to the flavor, Shakeela Begum, Abbas’ neighbor and Khurdam’s best friend gets her first taste of alcohol in the dark.
The play is a difficult 90 minute showdown. When asked about why this particular play has been chosen, which dates forty seven years back, the director would solemnly reply to his antics. His vision for an old fashioned Liverpool Sunday, which he believes has now become farce regularity, has outshone his perception through the direction of this play.
Ismailimail 