Life in Theatre or Vice Versa.

It all started on 20/07/2009. A over worked Monday, when a Friend of mine wanted to have a smoke with me in the evening, It was just after a few days of my return from a 20 day long trip to the North-East of India. As I said it was a Monday, my friend told me that he had been rehearsing for a Play which was to be staged in the month of August, it took a while for him to tell me what was happening and I asked him if  I could join in for the rehearsals and see what was happening. It was a short ride to the place where the rehearsals were happening, waited for a while till the Director came and walked in with him to see new faces except for the one standing right next to me. I was given a folded photo copy of the script, but it was hard for me to read the language, though I was repeatedly asked to give it a shot, I refused. I sat on the chairs to watch all the new faces rehearsing the third act of the play, I walked out to light my fourth cigarette for the day. After a while it was time for us to leave, another cigarette at a shop close by, I was done for the day. After a few days of my routine, I happened to walk in to the Rehearsals again and this time the faces weren't new. After all the greetings I walked in, again on the chairs again to watch them rehearse. All these happened for a few days and I was regular to the place, I was so much into it though I wasn't given a role by the Man yet. One fine Friday I was told by the Director not to shave my goatee which was on my chin for the past two months, I wondered for 3 seconds till I heard that I have a role of a Turkish Minstrel in the Play, I got the answer for my 3 seconds of wondering, I agreed the next second with a smile and after a few days it was my time for the rehearsals, a few fuck ups later I got it right. In the next few days I had to see some subtle changes in the Troupe's line up though it never made any difference to me. I was on to my role already. It was the fortnight of august and my goatee was a little longer than mentioned earlier, and it was 21/08/2009 a week before the big day of my life. I was all dressed up as the Turkish Minstrel for the Grand Rehearsals at the same venue where the show was to take place. I carried my camera to click some pictures which made it to most of the Newspapers in the coming week. Later, I clicked some pictures for myself with my all my favorite people and as the Director always says, it was like an 'Extended family' already. The Grand Rehearsals went well with good lights, nice costumes and not so superb make ups for all of us, as everyday, it was time for me to leave. With a better and bigger smile on my face, I left. 24/08/09 time for some field work with the Director. Traveled to all the Newspapers to let them know about what was happening on 28th and 29th of that month, though it was a long day in a toy car around the city it was fun with the Director, I had the chance to share all my thoughts about the first production and some love with my new life. It was 6:00pm and time for the Rehearsals, after finishing all the work on road the toy car to heads to the rehearsal place. With some funny moments of the day shared with the rest of us, it was 9:00pm already. Next 2 days were filled with excitement and it was time for us to realize that it was our last day of Rehearsals. 27/08/09 was a day off to take a deep breathe for the Next day which was huge, well, I literally took one and told myself not to smoke for that day. 28/08/09 The D-Day. Yes, The most awaited day for all of us. I did everything that I could on the previous night to close my eyes and sleep, that would never happen for any of us. Although I slept for an hour, I was super active the next day. 9:30am I was at the Director's place. With some little breakfast for our tummies, we headed for the costume place to pick all the costumes and props which were needed for the play. I really don't remember having lunch, well if I had it, good for me. The show was to start at 7:30pm but now it was 6 already. Another friend who played the role of a 'Maid' in the play had to go for some last minute purchases. As I wasn't ready with my costume and make up, I joined her on a bike to the nearby 'Girlie stores' to get what she wanted. By that time I was getting number of calls on my phone by the people whom I had invited for the play, by then I was already more than excited about 7:30pm. Yes, it was time, A total Blackout, I had to set my foot on stage in the darkness to look towards the audience, but with the head down as it was blocked by the director. Lights, music, over action, and the rest happened as it had to;

Now its been 8 months since I walked in to it and I've Lived and savored everyday of it. Having done 4 shows of the same play. 3 as the Turkish Minstrel and the 4th show as a Fencing Teacher which happened recently on 09/02/2010.

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