19 June,2015 12:35 PM IST | | Suprita Mitter
Laughter Therapy — Class Act 2, the second play in the Class Act series, presents the popular characters from the first play titled The Class Act in a brand new situation but one that promises to be as much of a laugh riot as the first one
The cast of Laughter Therapy - Class Act 2 at a rehearsal
After the splendid success of The Class Act, a play that brought together a Parsi, Hindu, Muslim, and a Goan-Christian, highlighting the differences and stereotypes of caste and religion that exist in our society, the sequel, titled Laughter Therapy - Class Act 2, is all set to premiere in the city, this weekend at the NCPA.
The cast of Laughter Therapy - Class Act 2 at a rehearsal
Laughter Therapy, unlike The Class Act, moves out of its original setting of the acting class and into a therapy workshop, where the characters from the previous play including, the Parsi (Mehernosh Siganporia), the Christian (Victor Rodricks), the Hindu (Mahesh Kadam) and the Muslim (Mohammed Abdul Qadir Shaikh), all come together to seek mental help from a woman therapist.
"The idea is to show people how they create stereotypes; how a Parsi looks at a Hindu, how a Muslim looks at a Christian, and so on. It takes a dig at everyone but does not insult. It also reflects the truth about what is actually happening in our society. The play stars five actors who will portray 30 different characters. We look at each of the characters and take the audience to their homes. The play is very costume heavy and we tried to create smart sets that highlight certain elements of these homes," explains director Meherzad Patel.
The story revolves around the four men who have done something illegal/inappropriate, are having trouble facing their fears and are subjected to court-ordered therapy. Except, they have been forced to undergo it and don't wish to get cured, that's what makes the play hilarious and intriguing.
"The humour in this play is clever and verbal; there are communication quirks and hilarious situations. It's a mirror on how we create stereotypes," says Deepa Gahlot, Head - Programming (Theatre & Film), NCPA.
"Despite being a sequel, Laughter Therapy has its own independent identity and unique plot. If you haven't seen part 1, you will still enjoy part 2," affirms Patel.
On: June 21 and 22, 7 pm
At: Tata Theatre, NCPA Marg, Nariman Point.
Call: 22824567
