When Eve Ensler’s Vagina Monologues was staged in India around a year-and-a-half ago, Delhi was one of the last destinations. After backlash from the public in smaller cities, the organisers were a little wary of bringing it to Delhi. But they were pleasantly surprised on getting a positive response. Interestingly, much has changed since then. Now, adult plays are holding centre stage in the capital. While theatre veteran Rajit Kapur staged Mahua, a play only for ‘adults’ in the capital sometime back, Man Is A Bitch by Creative Energies Theatre Association (CETA) has become popular. Mrinal Dhar from CETA is amazed at the way his play has been received. “There’s no hooting and people pay attention to the plot,” says Mrinal. The play is based on gender war and is partially adapted from George Bernard Shaw’s Man Vs Superman. “It’s gives an insight into today’s lifestyle. I was surprised that people took interest, despite the adult tag,” says Mrinal.
Let’s Have Sex, a play by Ishwar Shunya from Sanjha Sapna, is an experimental play that talks about issues like homosexuality and freedom of speech. The play that will be staged in Delhi later this month, is part of a three-play series and will be followed by Orgasm in November and another one based on Medea later in the year.
Ishwar says, “Every change takes time. When Sakharam Binder, that talks about man-woman relationship, was staged for the first time in the 70s, Maharashtra government banned it. But gradually people understood that change is inevitable. Even now, people are opening to changes. I’m sure more experiments will come up,” he says.