Pic Source: Event Listing
Venue: Kamani Auditorium
Date: 16 October, 2016

Thetare has a very long history in India. Bharatmuni wrote the Natya Shastra about 500 BC to 500 AD.  While theatre was a little slow in Delhi, it has made rapid progress in last few years. We see a host of big theater extravaganza such as Bharat Rang Mahotsav, META or Aadyam  performing to overflowing auditoriums every year in Delhi. Consequently we have seen a variety of theatre here.

Or so we thought till we watched Hotel Paradiso – a mask theatre. This form of theatre was new to us. The performers were wearing masks on their heads suitable to their characters. The storyline covered a range from comedy to dark humor to tragedy. What was mind boggling is that the performers successfully conveyed the mood of the character, a multitude of emotions, notwithstanding the masks.

Nobody cried, laughed or smiled.  Yet we travelled on the psychological rollercoaster that the actors took us on.

We have come across plays based on movies, literature or incidents. This was the first time we saw a play that too us back to a song. The play had strong undertones of the all time hit from Eagles – Hotel California.

The director Familie Flőz and the actors presented a super great performance. Something that we shall remember for long. This is another feather in the cap of Delhi theatre. If they repeat this play in Delhi, we shall watch Hotel Paradiso – a mask theatre it again.