Stand-at-ease is not easy task on stage

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Yes, an-hour long one man comedy-show! Where did it race, yeah, that mind of yours? Is Jerry of Seinfeld fame causing a laughter riot in the city? Has God sent Bill Hicks to conduct quality check on Family Guy or is it Richard Pryor burning himself alive on the “sunset strip” tonight? Nostalgia may choose its path depending on what you want flashing out of the hat in the verbal magic trick that comedy is. However, for Delhi audience it will be Family Jewels, a one-man comedy directed by Vivek Mansukhani, at India Habitat Centre on Sunday evening. Written and enacted by Rasik Chopra, the play is a narrative of his own life.

The duo’s chemistry radiates wit and mutual respect for their artistic expressions. In their creative outlet, Chopra and Mansukhani fudge the boundaries usually separating the role of a director from that of an actor. Mansukhani is the founder and the artistic director of theatre company Scene Stealers, which celebrated its 25 years in 2010. He has directed and acted in several theatrical productions, including William Shakespeare’s Othello: A Play in Black and White, winning Edinburgh Fringe First in 1999. His productions have been showcased in Amsterdam, Antwerp, Edinburgh, London, Cairo, Bonn, Harare and Taipei. While Mansukhani balanced his day job with artistic explorations, Chopra gave up investment banking to pursue stage and films. Plan in Peril, a play written by Chopra, won the audience choice award at the Short and Sweet Theatre Festival in 2011.
Chopra describes himself as a 34-year-old Homo sapien seeking comedy in the misery of life. “I am the merchant of menace. If you give me a brain, will I not need psychotherapy? If you give me a heart, will it not break? If you give me a penis, will it not get stuck in my zipper? If you give me an appetite, will I not grow my paunch and if you give me vanity, will I not rush to the gym to lose it?” questions Chopra in the synopsis. Through the alchemy of laughter, Chopra wants to provide the inner walls of emotions a window revealing fresh and unexpected points of view. “I wanted to reach out to people I admire. We all grow up with whacky relatives, funny friends and colleagues, go through break ups and face tough situations in life. I wanted to look at these from a different angle,” says Chopra.
Discussing the purpose of the play, Mansukhani says, “We want our audience to chill out and relax. The aim is to look at our lives in a funny way. The idea is to be like an actor in the drama of life and take some time to examine our problems in a humorous way.” The director also wants to use humour to bridge the generation gap. “Discussing issues such as sexuality, love, relationship and divorce is acceptable among the younger generations, but it is still a taboo when elders join the group. Family Jewels is a sort of meeting ground for both,” he adds.
Revealing how the show came about, Chopra says, “I was planning a story about a kid who wanted to be a performer and had a hard time doing it. When I sat down to write it, I realised it was becoming autobiographical. So I decided to write my own story for the stage. We all suffer tough times through our childhood and good comedy usually comes out of tragedy. The best comedy is the one where you feel embarrassed after laughing,” says Chopra.
Discussing the reaction of desi audience to stand-up comedy, Mansukhani says, “I have seen people going uncomfortable while watching stand-up acts here. We have bold language but we don’t use to abuse. The play does not make fun of the audience; it is Rasik taking a jibe on himself. Even when we involve audience members, our aim is not to put them in a tight spot. There is a story unfolding in the act rather than random jokes.”
Chopra loves his audience hot and crisp. “I don’t know how people will react. I have been brutally honest. I enjoy frank opinion. Honesty is the founding stone for any healthy relationship. If my audience finds my content honest and full of integrity, we will begin an endearing relationship,” says Chopra.

Family Jewels will be performed at India Habitat Centre on March 11 and April 1 at 7.30 pm